DOCSLIB.ORG

Research & Training

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Research & Training research & training ‘Pumelelo’, the first African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) produced through in vitro fertilisation. 160 WR 2016 | ISSUE 5 research & training IVF LIFELINE by Dr Morné de la Rey | Photos by Meldt van der Spuy Birth of African Buffalo Calf Conceived Through In Vitro Fertilisation Announced he first African buffalo Assisted reproductive technology calf produced through gives hope for saving the northern in vitro fertilisation, white rhino and other critically Pumelelo, was born on endangered species. T28 June 2016 on the farm of Frans Stapelberg from the Lekkerleef Buffalo Ranch near Marble Hall, Limpopo. The birth marks the first time the species has ever been reproduced through IVF. Pumelelo was introduced to the media on 22 September 2016. The Embryo Plus team, led by Dr Morné de la Rey, BVSc., is working to develop techniques that Dr Morné de la Rey can be used to save critically en- dangered species. WR 2016 | ISSUE 5 161 research & training xxxx Photo © xxxxx Frans Stapelberg. This success is hugely important for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and is why we are undertaking this work. trans-vaginally and ova (eggs) were aspirated from the ovaries of the cow using ultrasound to visualise the process. The eggs were matured and fer- tilised in vitro with frozen-thawed semen from a buffalo bull, Goliat. It “This breakthrough is of great oocytes of a buffalo cow, Vasti, was then grown in a laboratory in- significance as it is the first of its were collected by a technique cubator, in a process known as in kind in the world and holds great called ovum pick-up (OPU), which vitro production (IVP). After seven promise for the continued sur- took place with the cow under full days of growth, the embryo was vival of endangered species.” said anaesthesia. A needle was guided transferred into a surrogate buffalo Dr De la Rey, “Using Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs) Buffalo embryo. Buffalo IVF embryo on day 7 after fertilisation. in wildlife management, although still in its infancy, is becoming more of a reality. This success is hugely important for the prospec- tive breeding of endangered spe- cies, and is why we are under- taking this work.” In a process similar to ovum recovery in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), the 162 WR 2016 | ISSUE 5 research & training Pumelelo was introduced to the media on 22 September 2016 at a media conference hosted on Lekkerleef Buffalo Ranch, the farm of Frans Stapelberg. cow, which carried the foetus to the animals and trained them to the vaccinations and routine treat- term for 11 months, after which she participate in routine veterinary pro- ments are accomplished without gave birth to a perfect, healthy buf- cedures without need for anaes- anaesthetising the animals.” falo calf. He was named Pumelelo, thesia. Dr Hendrik Hansen from Bela- which means ‘success’ in Zulu. “The superior ranch manage- Bela does the routine wildlife work “Extensive preliminary research ment implemented by Frans and on Lekkerleef and was also respon- was necessary to mature and fer- his team was a significant factor sible for all the anaesthetic proce- tilise eggs and incubate embryos dures. “All the procedures went to an advanced stage of develop- very well without any complica- ment, as all species have different tions,” said Dr Hansen. Dr De la Rey’s work requirements for growth and uti- Dr De la Rey’s work is consid- is considered to be lise different nutrients during the ered to be among the first steps in laboratory phase of the largely un- among the first steps an international collaborative effort charted path of IVF/IVP in African in an international to save the northern white rhino. game species. Every species is dif- collaborative effort to save There are only three northern white ferent and therefore the IVP proce- the northern white rhino. rhino left in the world. The rhino bull, dures also. It has to be discovered There are only three named Sudan, and his two cows, for every species,” explains Dr De northern white rhino left Najin and Fatu, are at home at the la Rey. in the world. Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The buffalo used for this proce- The last northern white rhino in dure are part of a herd that has the U.S. died at the San Diego Zoo been maintained at the Stapelberg in the success of the IVF project,” Safari Park in 2015. farm for more than 17 years. The said Dr De la Rey. “These facilities “We are delighted to hear about facility was chosen in part because make the handling of the buffalo the success of this technique with they have worked extensively with easier and a large percentage of African buffalo,” said Barbara WR 2016 | ISSUE 5 163 research & training Pregnant southern white rhinoceros or southern square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). The first steps of wildlife conservation will always remain habitat protection followed by Rhino oocytes (eggs). animal protection. San Diego Zoo Global is actively working to save rhino species from extinction. They’re Rhino pregnancy diagnosis committed to saving species worldwide by with ultrasound scanning uniting their expertise in animal care and needs special equipment. conservation science with their dedication to inspiring passion for nature. Durrant, PhD., reproductive phys- techniques in different species,” iologist for San Diego Zoo Global. said Dr De la Rey. “The first steps “We look forward to working with of wildlife conservation will always Embryo Plus on the effort to bring remain habitat protection followed back the northern white rhino for by animal protection.” In addition the future.” to these basic steps however, he San Diego Zoo Global has pledged to work with a team of sci- ‘Angalifu’, a male Northern white rhinoceros photographed at San Diego Wild Animal Park. entists from around the world to ‘Angalifu’ died. save the species and has created a herd of southern white rhinos that have been trained for non-invasive procedures that are providing un- precedented information about the reproductive physiology of rhinos. “Every success achieved with assisted reproductive technology in wild animals is a step closer to understanding other species’ re- production requirements and how to apply assisted reproduction 164 WR 2016 | ISSUE 5 research & training recognises the need for improved in the birth of this calf. Futhi was de- Sable antelope embryo flushed on breeding practices to ensure the in- rived from a single cell taken by bi- day 8 after fertilisation. crease in numbers of these endan- opsy from the ear of a donor cow, gered animals. which was then inserted into an Dr De la Rey has also worked empty cow-egg and later implanted extensively with sable antelope in a recipient cow. and in 2011 he produced the first Embryo Plus is busy with collabo- successful embryo transfer calves rative efforts with the Rhino Pride of these magnificent antelope at Foundation (RPF) and ESCO labo- Tholokulu near Brits. ratories to develop an endangered Embryo Plus is co-owned by Dr De species breeding centre at Thaba la Rey and Dr Robert Treadwell and Manzi Wildlife Services near Bela- in 2003 they also received world- Bela. The RPF-ESBC wide acclaim for their involvement in will focus mainly on assisted reproduction the cloning of the first animal on the Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), African continent, a healthy Holstein work on rhino, but will South Africa. Photo © EcoPrint. heifer named Futhi, born in April certainly also look at 2003 at the Embryo Plus Centre at other endangered Brits. No semen or bull was involved species. The RPF-ESBC will focus mainly on assisted reproduction work on rhino, but will certainly also look at other endangered species. Northern white rhinoceros, or northern square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni). As of November 2015, there are only three rhinos of this subspecies left. They all belong to the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic but live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya and are protected round-the-clock by armed guards. According to the latest IUCN's assessment from 2011, the subspecies is considered ’Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct in the Wild)’. Photo © Michael Dalton-Smith. Should you wish to make contributions visit: www.rhinopridefoundation.org.za For more information, contact Dr Morné de la Rey: [email protected] WR 2016 | ISSUE 5 165.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections
    SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOLUME 61, NUMBER 1 THE WHITE RHINOCEROS With Thirty-one Plates EDMUND HELLER Naturalist, Smithsonian African Expedition Publication i 2180) CITY OF WASHINGTON PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 1913 tt%t £or6 (gfafttmore <pvt36 S. A. BALTIMORE, MD. : C. THE WHITE RHINOCEROS By EDMUND HELLER Naturalist, Smithsonian African Expedition (With Thirty-one Plates) PREFACE The white rhinoceros is so imperfectly known that it has been thought advisable to publish, in advance of the complete report of the expedition, the results obtained from the study of the specimens of this species collected in the Sudan by the Smithsonian African Expe- 1 dition, under the direction of Colonel Roosevelt. In order to make this material available to zoologists generally, a series of photographs of the skull of each specimen collected has been added to the paper. This has been found necessary not only to illustrate the text, but in order to fill one of the gaps in the literature pertaining to African mammalogy. Up to the present time no photograph of a perfect skull of this rhinoceros has appeared in print. There have been a few figures published, but none showing structural details well. The present publication will do much to remedy this want, and will also, it is hoped, serve to put the species on a more logical systematic basis. In the present paper considerable emphasis has been placed on the really great structural differences which exist between the white rhi- noceros and the black, with which it has hitherto been generically con- founded under the name Diccros.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoo Launches Genetic Project to Save Northern White Rhino POSTED by DEBBIE L
    ABOUT STAFF CONTACT ADVERTISE FAQ PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF SERVICE ALL POLITICS CRIME BUSINESS SPORTS EDUCATION ARTS MILITARY TECH LIFE OSPeIaNrcIOh…N LATEST NEWS Homeland Security Funded, But Hunter, Issa Vote 'No' Home » Tech » This Article Zoo Launches Genetic Project to Save Northern White Rhino POSTED BY DEBBIE L. SKLAR ON FEBRUARY 26, 2015 IN TECH | 346 VIEWS | LEAVE A RESPONSE Recommend Share 199 GET TIMES OF SAN DIEGO BY EMAIL Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. Email Address Nola, a Northern White rhino at the Safari Park at the San Diego Zoo. Photo via The San Diego Zoo SUBSCRIBE With support from the Seaver Institute, geneticists at San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research are taking the initial steps in an effort to use cryopreserved cells to bring back the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction. Living cells banked in the San Diego Zoo’s Frozen Zoo have preserved the genetic lineage of 12 northern white rhinos, including a male that recently passed away at the Safari Park. Scientists hope that new technologies can be used to gather the genetic knowledge needed to create a viable population for this disappearing subspecies, of which only five are left. “Multiple steps must be accomplished to reach the goal of establishing a viable population that can be reintroduced into the species range in Africa, where it is now extinct,” said Oliver Ryder Ph.D., director of genetics for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. “A first step involves sequencing the genomes of northern white rhinos to clarify the extent of genetic divergence from their closest relative, the southern white rhino.” The next step would require conversion of the cells preserved in the Frozen Zoo to stem cells that could develop into sperm and eggs.
    [Show full text]
  • WAR and PROTECTED AREAS AREAS and PROTECTED WAR Vol 14 No 1 Vol 14 Protected Areas Programme Areas Protected
    Protected Areas Programme Protected Areas Programme Vol 14 No 1 WAR AND PROTECTED AREAS 2004 Vol 14 No 1 WAR AND PROTECTED AREAS 2004 Parks Protected Areas Programme © 2004 IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Vol 14 No 1 WAR AND PROTECTED AREAS 2004 ISSN: 0960-233X Vol 14 No 1 WAR AND PROTECTED AREAS CONTENTS Editorial JEFFREY A. MCNEELY 1 Parks in the crossfire: strategies for effective conservation in areas of armed conflict JUDY OGLETHORPE, JAMES SHAMBAUGH AND REBECCA KORMOS 2 Supporting protected areas in a time of political turmoil: the case of World Heritage 2004 Sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo GUY DEBONNET AND KES HILLMAN-SMITH 9 Status of the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire and the effects of war FRAUKE FISCHER 17 Recovering from conflict: the case of Dinder and other national parks in Sudan WOUTER VAN HOVEN AND MUTASIM BASHIR NIMIR 26 Threats to Nepal’s protected areas PRALAD YONZON 35 Tayrona National Park, Colombia: international support for conflict resolution through tourism JENS BRÜGGEMANN AND EDGAR EMILIO RODRÍGUEZ 40 Establishing a transboundary peace park in the demilitarized zone on the Kuwaiti/Iraqi borders FOZIA ALSDIRAWI AND MUNA FARAJ 48 Résumés/Resumenes 56 Subscription/advertising details inside back cover Protected Areas Programme Vol 14 No 1 WAR AND PROTECTED AREAS 2004 ■ Each issue of Parks addresses a particular theme, in 2004 these are: Vol 14 No 1: War and protected areas Vol 14 No 2: Durban World Parks Congress Vol 14 No 3: Global change and protected areas ■ Parks is the leading global forum for information on issues relating to protected area establishment and management ■ Parks puts protected areas at the forefront of contemporary environmental issues, such as biodiversity conservation and ecologically The international journal for protected area managers sustainable development ISSN: 0960-233X Published three times a year by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of IUCN – Subscribing to Parks The World Conservation Union.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Cloning Save the White Rhino?
    June 14 — June 20,2010 Bloomberg Business week Why analysts are too optimistic \ t \ $135 million in funding from Digital Sky Technologies, the Russian investment Biotechnology firm that also owns as much as 10 per- cent of Facebook. The risk from disgrun- Can Cloning Save tled customers is lawsuits, says Jeremiah The White Rhino? Owyang, an analyst at research firm Al- timeter Group. "Imagine you're a con- sumer and you didn't get the manicure or pedicure you paid for," he says. "Who do you sue, the small business owner or someone who just got $135 million?" Mason says Groupon hasn't been sued for unfulfilled deals, and adds that the company offers customers full refunds if they're dissatisfied. In the coming months, he plans to add online market- ing seminars to better prepare small »•San Diego's Frozen Zoo stores business owners for spikes in demand. cells of endangered species "We say to businesses, the first day is going to be crazy," Mason explains. •"It gives me hope we can help save Mission Minis, a San Francisco bakery species from extinction" that opened in January, was bombarded Fora northern white rhinoceros, of the revenue. The local merchants with 72,000 cupcake orders after a Grou- Angalifu has a pretty sweet life. The two- can set a cap on how much they want pon offer in March. Owner Brandon Ar- ton rhino can roam freely through a 213- to sell. The trouble is, those businesses novick says his frazzled bakers couldn't acre habitat that resembles the African don't always make the cap low enough keep up, making some customers angry.
    [Show full text]
  • The Charcoal Grey Market in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan (2021)
    COMMODITY REPORT BLACK GOLD The charcoal grey market in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan SIMONE HAYSOM I MICHAEL McLAGGAN JULIUS KAKA I LUCY MODI I KEN OPALA MARCH 2021 BLACK GOLD The charcoal grey market in Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan ww Simone Haysom I Michael McLaggan Julius Kaka I Lucy Modi I Ken Opala March 2021 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank everyone who gave their time to be interviewed for this study. They would like to extend particular thanks to Dr Catherine Nabukalu, at the University of Pennsylvania, and Bryan Adkins, at UNEP, for playing an invaluable role in correcting our misperceptions and deepening our analysis. We would also like to thank Nhial Tiitmamer, at the Sudd Institute, for providing us with additional interviews and information from South Sudan at short notice. Finally, we thank Alex Goodwin for excel- lent editing. Interviews were conducted in South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya between February 2020 and November 2020. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Simone Haysom is a senior analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), with expertise in urban development, corruption and organized crime, and over a decade of experience conducting qualitative fieldwork in challenging environments. She is currently an associate of the Oceanic Humanities for the Global South research project based at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Ken Opala is the GI-TOC analyst for Kenya. He previously worked at Nation Media Group as deputy investigative editor and as editor-in-chief at the Nairobi Law Monthly. He has won several journalistic awards in his career.
    [Show full text]
  • Deadly Profits: Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Through Uganda And
    Cover: The carcass of an elephant killed by militarized poachers. Garamba National Park, DRC, April 2016. Photo: African Parks Deadly Profits Illegal Wildlife Trafficking through Uganda and South Sudan By Ledio Cakaj and Sasha Lezhnev July 2017 Executive Summary Countries that act as transit hubs for international wildlife trafficking are a critical, highly profitable part of the illegal wildlife smuggling supply chain, but are frequently overlooked. While considerable attention is paid to stopping illegal poaching at the chain’s origins in national parks and changing end-user demand (e.g., in China), countries that act as midpoints in the supply chain are critical to stopping global wildlife trafficking. They are needed way stations for traffickers who generate considerable profits, thereby driving the market for poaching. This is starting to change, as U.S., European, and some African policymakers increasingly recognize the problem, but more is needed to combat these key trafficking hubs. In East and Central Africa, South Sudan and Uganda act as critical waypoints for elephant tusks, pangolin scales, hippo teeth, and other wildlife, as field research done for this report reveals. Kenya and Tanzania are also key hubs but have received more attention. The wildlife going through Uganda and South Sudan is largely illegally poached at alarming rates from Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, points in West Africa, and to a lesser extent Uganda, as it makes its way mainly to East Asia. Worryingly, the elephant
    [Show full text]
  • The Last Male Northern White Rhino Dies
    Tuesday, 20 March 2018 For Immediate Release THE LAST MALE NORTHERN WHITE RHINO DIES (Nanyuki, Kenya). It is with great sadness that Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Dvůr Králové Zoo announce that Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhino, aged 45, died at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on March 19th, 2018 (yesterday). Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that led to degenerative changes in muscles and bones combined with extensive skin wounds. His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal. The veterinary team from the Dvůr Králové Zoo, Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him. Sudan will be remembered for his unusually memorable life. In the 1970s, he escaped extinction of his kind in the wild when he was moved to Dvůr Králové Zoo. Throughout his existence, he significantly contributed to survival of his species as he sired two females. Additionally, his genetic material was collected yesterday and provides a hope for future attempts at reproduction of northern white rhinos through advanced cellular technologies. During his final years, Sudan came back to Africa and stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength. “We on Ol Pejeta are all saddened by Sudan’s death. He was a great ambassador for his species and will be remembered for the work he did to raise awareness globally of the plight facing not only rhinos, but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unsustainable human activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Cokids 11.28.14.Indd
    ost people in the world can’t digest milk. They can digest milk when Mthey are little babies, but, as they grow older, their bodies stop making lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar in milk. Drinking Cheese and milk even as toddlers can upset their digestion and make them feel ill. But many Northern Europeans are able to drink milk all their lives, and yogurt were so it was thought that was why they had dairies in ancient times. Now research shows that, when Europeans started dairy farms thousands of years ago, they were lactose intolerant, and had to turn the milk from dairy foods their cows, goats and sheep into cheese and yogurt. That is a process that uses bacteria to break down the lactose and makes the milk digestible. After 4,000 years of eating cheese and yogurt, researchers believe, those before milk ancient dairy farmer’s bodies evolved and began making lactase all their lives so they could fi nally drink fresh milk. Photo/Myrabella CK Reporter Grace Alexander, ColoradoKids Denver October 28, 2014 eXPLoRiNG ouR LocaL PRehisToRY hen you think of the great and ancient di- Wnosaurs what comes to mind? For me, I think of Dinosaur LoW-cosT, LoW-fLYiNG Ridge in Morrison. DRoNes aiD iN The fiGhT aGaiNsT MaLaRia By Thomas Krumholz, 12, a CK Reporter e often hear how loss of from Denver Whabitat can put animals in danger, but, in Malaysia, changes in land use was sus- Celebrating its 25th anniversary, pected of endangering people. the Ridge is world famous for dino- A type of malaria that had not saur fossils, and visiting the Ridge been a human problem had be- again was a great experience.
    [Show full text]
  • World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency
    Supplemental File S1 for the article “World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency” published in BioScience by William J. Ripple, Christopher Wolf, Thomas M. Newsome, Phoebe Barnard, and William R. Moomaw. Contents: List of countries with scientist signatories (page 1); List of scientist signatories (pages 1-319). List of 153 countries with scientist signatories: Albania; Algeria; American Samoa; Andorra; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Bahamas (the); Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bolivia (Plurinational State of); Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Cayman Islands (the); Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Congo (the Democratic Republic of the); Congo (the); Costa Rica; Côte d’Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic (the); Denmark; Dominican Republic (the); Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Estonia; Ethiopia; Faroe Islands (the); Fiji; Finland; France; French Guiana; French Polynesia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Guam; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Iran (Islamic Republic of); Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jersey; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kiribati; Korea (the Republic of); Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, Republic of (the former Yugoslavia); Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Mali; Malta; Martinique; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia (Federated States of); Moldova (the Republic of); Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Nepal;
    [Show full text]
  • Iraqi PM Visits Kuwait AS Neighbors Eye Closer Ties
    SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014 SAFAR 30, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Fees for Muhammad Ali Don’t miss your copy with today’s issue visa renewal hospitalized could with ‘mild’ increase2 pneumonia15 Iraqi PM visits Kuwait as Min 10º Max 20º neighbors eye closer ties High Tide 12:59 & 23:25 Low Tide Abadi thanks Kuwait for deferring compensation 06:23 & 18:07 40 PAGES NO: 16380 150 FILS KUWAIT: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and an accompa- No residency for nying delegation arrived in Kuwait yesterday on an official invi- tation by HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Talks between Sheikh Jaber and passports valid Abadi focused on fraternal relations and prospects of bilateral cooperation in various domains in order to serve the common less than a year interests of both countries. The two premiers also exchanged views on their countries’ positions on regional and international KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry’s assistant undersec- issues of mutual interest. Earlier, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- retary for residency and citizenship affairs Maj Gen Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Abadi at Bayan Palace, where Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah said that expatriates’ resi- talks focused on issues pertaining to bilateral relations as well as dency validity would be limited to their passports’ issues of mutual interests. validity. “Those holding passports valid for a year will Abadi later expressed his gratification at the Kuwaiti govern- get one-year residency visa and those holding pass- ment’s acceptance to defer Iraq’s payment of compensation for ports valid for two will get a two-year residency,” he damages incurred as a result of its invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating Recovery Potential of the Northern White Rhinoceros from Cryopreserved Somatic Cells
    Downloaded from genome.cshlp.org on September 26, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Research Evaluating recovery potential of the northern white rhinoceros from cryopreserved somatic cells Tate Tunstall,1 Richard Kock,2 Jiri Vahala,3 Mark Diekhans,4 Ian Fiddes,4 Joel Armstrong,4 Benedict Paten,4 Oliver A. Ryder,1,5 and Cynthia C. Steiner1,5 1San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, California 92027, USA; 2Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London NW1 0TU, United Kingdom; 3Dvur Krlov Zoo, Dvr Krlov nad Labem 544 01, Czech Republic; 4Jack Baskin School of Engineering, University California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA The critically endangered northern white rhinoceros is believed to be extinct in the wild, with the recent death of the last male leaving only two remaining individuals in captivity. Its extinction would appear inevitable, but the development of advanced cell and reproductive technologies such as cloning by nuclear transfer and the artificial production of gametes via stem cells differentiation offer a second chance for its survival. In this work, we analyzed genome-wide levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding, population history, and demography of the white rhinoceros sequenced from cryopreserved somatic cells, with the goal of informing how genetically valuable individuals could be used in future efforts toward the genetic res- cue of the northern white rhinoceros. We present the first sequenced genomes of the northern white rhinoceros, which show relatively high levels of heterozygosity and an average genetic divergence of 0.1% compared with the southern sub- species. The two white rhinoceros subspecies appear to be closely related, with low genetic admixture and a divergent time <80,000 yr ago.
    [Show full text]
  • Biorescue Creates Four New Embryos and Gets Ready for Next Steps of the Northern White Rhino Rescue Mission
    Press Release // Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Safari Park Dvůr Králové, Kenya Wildlife Service, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Avantea Date: April 22nd, 2021 Embargo: April 22nd, 2021 at 9 AM CEST BioRescue creates four new embryos and gets ready for next steps of the northern white rhino rescue mission The international consortium of scientists and conservationists working towards preventing the extinction of the northern white rhino through advanced assisted reproduction technologies is pleased to announce that in March and April 2021, four additional northern white rhino embryos were produced. This is the most successful series of procedures – from oocyte collection in Kenya to in vitro fertilisation and cryopreservation in Italy – the team of Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Safari Park Dvůr Králové, Kenya Wildlife Service, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Avantea has ever conducted. Additionally, the team confirmed the successful sterilisation of the southern white rhino bull Owuan, which was conducted in December 2020. The bull will now be introduced to the Ol Pejeta southern white rhino females that have been identified as potential surrogate mothers for future northern white rhino offspring. Females Najin and Fatu at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya, are the only remaining northern white rhinos in the world. To prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino, an international consortium of scientists and conservationists called BioRescue led by Leibniz-IZW has been harvesting immature egg cells (oocytes) from the two females and artificially inseminating these using frozen sperm from deceased males in order to create viable northern white rhino embryos since 2019.
    [Show full text]