News Date
Latest oocyte collection in northern white rhinos yields no embryos
News Content
On August 18, the BioRescue team successfully collected ten oocytes (immature egg cells) from the last two northern white rhinos, females Najin and Fatu, in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. This has been the third time the team collected the egg cells in order to fertilize them and to produce viable embryos. In a lab, six out of ten oocytes were injected with northern white rhino semen - despite the fact that only two oocytes were clearly matured. Unfortunately, as the quality of oocytes was poor, this time none of them developed into a viable embryo that could be used for an embryo transfer in future.
Najin after the Ovum Pickup at Ol Pejeta, Kenya. | Photo by Rio The Photographer
Quotes
Description
This is a highly advanced scientific procedure that really pushes the boundaries of what is possible in in-vitro fertilization in rhinoceroses – and in scientific process we cannot expect that every single attempt would be successful. We still have three cryopreserved pure northern white rhino embryos from the first two egg collections as a basis for our future progress. Now it’s clear how crucial it is to collect as many oocytes as possible and to develop as many embryos as possible. We can only hope that our work will not be disrupted again the way it was due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Eggs and consequently embryos are necessary for the artificial reproduction of the northern white rhino and any uncollected genetic material is lost forever.
Name
— Prof. Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt
Position
BioRescue project leader and Head of the Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-IZW
Boilerplates
Title
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)
Title
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)
Description
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) is an internationally renowned German research institute of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our mission is to examine evolutionary adaptations of wildlife to global change and develop new concepts and measures for the conservation of biodiversity. To achieve this, our scientists use their broad interdisciplinary expertise from biology and veterinary medicine to conduct fundamental and applied research – from molecular to landscape level – in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally we are committed to unique and high quality services for the scientific community.
Title
Avantea
Title
Avantea
Description
Avantea is a laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction based in Cremona, Italy. Avantea has over twenty years of experience and the know-how in assisted reproduction of livestock developed through years of research conducted in the biomedical and animal reproduction fields.
Title
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Title
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Description
Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. It is also home to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet. Ol Pejeta´s cutting edge wildlife security includes a specialized K-9 unit, motion sensor cameras along its solar-powered electric fence, and a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit.
Contacts
Title
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)
Name
Prof. Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt
Description
BioRescue project leader and Head of the Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-IZW
Contact Number
+49 (0)30 5168440
Contact Email
hildebrandt@izw-berlin.de
Name
Jan Zwilling
Description
Science Communication Office
Contact Number
+49 (0)30 5168121
Contact Email
zwilling@izw-berlin.de
Title
Avantea
Name
Prof. Cesare Galli
Description
Director of Avantea
Contact Number
+39 / 372437242
Contact Email
cesaregalli@avantea.it
Title
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Name
Elodie Sampere
Description
PR & Communications
Contact Number
+254 / 727 341 612
Contact Email
Elodie.sampere@olpejetaconservancy.org
