The Last Two Female Northern White Rhinos:
A Story of Survival and Hope
In the heart of Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy reside the last two remaining northern white rhinos on Earth: Fatu and Najin. These remarkable creatures represent the final hope for a species that once roamed freely across Central Africa. Their story is a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of poaching and habitat loss.
A Legacy on the Brink
Najin, born On July 11, 1989 and her daughter Fatu, born on June 29, 2000, are the sole survivors of their kind. They once belonged to a thriving population of northern white rhinos, but relentless poaching for their horns led to the species' dramatic decline. In 2018, March 19, the world mourned the death of Sudan born in 1973, the last male northern white rhino, leaving Najin and Fatu as the final members of their species.
The Role of Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy, alongside dedicated caretakers like Zacharia Mutai, has taken on the monumental task of protecting and caring for these two precious rhinos. Living under constant protection, Fatu and Najin symbolize resilience and survival. Their caretakers work tirelessly, ensuring their safety and well-being, while also holding the heavy responsibility of preserving the species' legacy.
IVF: The Only Hope to Save the Northern White Rhinos
With only two females, Fatu and Najin, left, the Northern White Rhinos are on the brink of extinction. Natural reproduction is impossible since both females cannot carry pregnancies, and the last male, Sudan, died in 2018.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is the only hope to save the species. Scientists have preserved sperm from deceased males and successfully created 30 embryos using Fatu’s eggs. 19 of them were created with sperm from Angalifu, 11 with sperm from Suni.These embryos will be implanted into Southern White Rhino surrogates.If successful, a northern white rhino calf could be born in 16 months.
The team hopes that the offspring would then be able to live with Najin and Fatu to learn the behaviors of the northern white rhino species.
This groundbreaking approach is a race against time and requires continued scientific advancements and global support to bring Northern White Rhinos back from the edge of extinction
Photo credits to @BioRescue
