In December 2015 an international group of scientists convened in Vienna, Austria, to discuss the imminent extinction of the northern white rhinoceros and the possibility of bringing the species back from the brink of extinction. The discussions of this historic meeting are published online on 3 May in the international Journal Zoo Biology. The public release of this work is designed as part of the ongoing effort to raise awareness for the extinction crisis that rhinos and many other species are facing while also reaching out to the scientific community to share and gather information.
“The productive engagement of an international multidisciplinary team of experts will be essential to accomplish the ambitious goal of bringing back the northern white rhinoceros from its otherwise certain path to extinction,” Saragusty added.
The discussion to save the northern white rhinoceros touches on genetics and cell biology, scientific ethics and the importance of long term strategic thinking and ongoing communications. A key element of these discussions was the need to maintain genetic banks of frozen tissue, spermatozoa and oocytes to use as materials in this fight against extinction.
“Cryobanked genetic resources from this unique form of rhinoceros have been saved in San Diego and in Europe”, said Oliver Ryder, geneticist for San Diego Zoo Global. “The genetic resources in the form of banked viable cell cultures, tissues and spermatozoa, together with the capability to establish induced pluripotent stem cells are the basis for hope that a viable population of northern white rhinoceros can be produced.”
With some genetic tissue from northern white rhinos available the group is looking at advanced reproductive technologies as the hope for the future of the species.
“It was a long way from the idea to the roadmap created in Vienna. I am glad that we found so many competent supporters in the scientific community who believe in the application of advanced cellular and reproductive technologies for the genetic rescue of the northern white rhinoceros. Now we have to demonstrate that this novel strategy can make a difference”, said Thomas Hildebrandt, head of the Reproduction Management department at IZW.
The last three northern white rhinoceroses reside in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya where they were transported from ZOO Dvůr Králové, Czech Republic. “Although we were able to breed the northern white rhinoceroses in our zoo, their health status does not allow them to breed naturally anymore. We are now optimistic that the cutting-edge research outlined in Vienna will give these very last specimens a chance to see an offspring of their own kind”, said Jan Stejskal, Director of International Projects of ZOO Dvůr Králové.
In addition to sharing information about reproductive technologies the group of experts discussed the ethics of spending resources to save one species. The paper voices the hope that the information gathered through this effort would be applied towards other species facing the threat of extinction in the future.
But not all are in favour
Knight is worried that the effort of the costly ‘Star Trek-type’ scientific experiment will divert money from other rhino conservation efforts. Especially money that could sustain the already good results with southern white rhinos, whose numbers are swelling thanks to good management.
And isn’t the southern white rhino not as equally important to the ecosystem as the northern white rhino? In other words it could replace the northern white rhino, which more or less already shold be considered extinct [Moos].
(Source: Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research press release, 03.05.2016; Nature news, 03.05.2016)