Researchers have successfully created an embryo of the highly endangered northern white rhino in a bid to save the species from extinction. According to Readers Digest , there are only two northern white rhinos left, both of which are female and are currently being held in captivity. That number might be about to increase thanks to the work done by a team of scientists and conservationists. According to a statement from the team, this embryo is only the third to be created by researchers and was done by implanting sperm from a dead male northern white rhino into the egg taken from one of the remaining female white rhinos. The embryo will be stored in liquid nitrogen and be transferred into the surrogate mother in the coming months. The goal of this project is to eventually create a herd of at least five northern rhinos that will be returned back to their natural habitat. However, seeing as the gestation period for white rhinos can last as long as 16 to 18 months, it could be a while before we see this plan come to fruition. Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) said in its statement that their […]
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