Image Credit: Ol Pejeta / BioRescue How can scientists recover a functionally extinct species like the northern white rhino? The scientists extract oocytes from Fatu. Even if there were any males remaining, neither Nájin nor Fatu are able to become pregnant naturally Nájin has an ovarian tumour as well as problems with her hips caused by age, and Fatu has issues with her uterus. The two remaining NWRs, Nájin and Fatu, are a mother-and-daughter pair who live under constant armed guard in Kenya, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. However, attempts to mate the remaining NWRs with SWRs have not been successful. A subspecies is defined as genetically similar but geographically distinct from other subspecies. They are closely related to the southern white rhino (SWR). NWRs are a subspecies of white rhinos previously found across Central Africa. The rhino’s love of wallowing in mud benefits the ecosystem too, as it helps to create and maintain watering holes which are vital for all savannah inhabitants. These lawns also act as natural breaks for wildfires, which are unable to burn on the areas of short grass. Their feeding behaviour “mows” the grass, creating areas known as grazing lawns, which studies have shown to be preferred feeding areas for other mammals, birds, and insects. However, groundbreaking biological science could bring this formerly abundant species back from the brink.Īs large herbivorous grazers, rhinos have a massive role to play in their savanna ecosystems. When Sudan, the last living male northern white rhino (NWR), died in 2018, it seemed like the subspecies of gentle giants was destined for the history books.
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