Kenya pursues IVF to save Northern White Rhinos from extinction
Kenya is intensifying efforts to save the critically endangered Northern white rhino from extinction. Only two females remain worldwide, both under constant protection at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced that scientists are making significant progress towards using in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to save the species. The BioRescue team has harvested 29 oocytes, which were sent to Italy for maturation. These will be fertilised with sperm from Sudan, the last male who died in 2018.
The government is also bolstering anti-poaching measures, employing new technologies like drones and increasing law enforcement personnel. Kenya currently hosts 1,890 rhinos, including 966 black rhinos, making it the world's third-largest population after South Africa and Namibia.
Miano highlighted Kenya's role in rhino conservation, noting that the country is home to 80% of the eastern black rhino subspecies. These are distributed across eight national parks and reserves, with Laikipia region housing over half of Kenya's total rhino population.
The government has implemented laws and policies to protect wildlife, including adopting international agreements like CITES.
Source: The Star
