The Last Of A Species Author : DHRUV VISHAL

 The Last Of A Species

Author : DHRUV VISHAL

Hello everyone! We all know that dinosaurs suffered extinction in just a day. There are many endangered species in this world, but none of them come close to the verge of extinction that the northern white rhino is on. There are only two of these species left on the whole planet. They are guarded 24/7 each day in Kenya! But the question is, can scientists save them? Let's see!

In the 1950's, there were 2000 northern white rhinos, but now only two females remain. Their names are Najin and Fatu.

The gravestones in this conservancy are memorials for the rhinos that were poached since 2004. Najin and Fatu are under the threat of being poached for their horns which has a market in the Middle East. A kilo of northern white rhino horns can go up to 6,500$ USD!

Now these two female rhinos can do nothing but accept what fate poachers have put them into. But scientists believe that they may have found a solution! They say"Right now is a very important phase of a project which has been going on for more than five years." Using vitro fertilization techniques, the scientists will take eggs fro Najin and Fatu and fertilize them with the sperm collected from two northern male rhinos before their deaths. If embryos are successfully created, they could be transferred to a surrogate mother of a different sub - species like southern white rhinos. If we have embryos, then we can create up to 30 white horned rhinos per year! So let us have a look on how these scientists did it.

First, Najin and Fatu were separated. Then they were tranquilized. Ultrasound was used to locate their ovaries and collect eggs for the first time in four years. The eggs were airlifted from Kenya to a laboratory in Italy within hours. After a month, there was good news! Scientists were able to develop two embryos! There may still be hope on the northern white rhino's future.
I hope you liked my blog as much as I loved writing it. Until then, goodbye.

No.Of.Words -- 344

Feedback