There now seems to be a great possibility of saving the endangered northern white rhinos from extinction even though the last male of the species died last year. Scientists were happy to report that seven eggs from the world's last two remaining northern white rhinos have been successfully fertilized artificially.

Northern White Rhinoceros

There are only two female survivors of the northern white rhinoceros.  Sudan, the last male of the species died last year in Kenya leaving behind only two female survivors - Najin and Fatu who are Sudan's daughter and grand-daughter. They lived together at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about 250km  north of Nairobi. 

The scientists were able to harvest 10 eggs from Najin and Fatu out of which seven had been successfully matured and artificially inseminated on Sunday with the sperm of two bulls of the same species that were kept frozen. The team of scientists is led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin. 

Dwindling Rhino Population

In the 1970s, Kenya had a population of around 20, 000 rhinos but these figures have reduced to just 650 in current times due to rampant poaching of the rhinoceros for their horns which are used in medicine and as status symbols in some countries. The remaining 650 rhinos are all almost black rhinos.

The next crucial step involves creating viable embryos that could be later on transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers. Hope this next step also meets with success so that the northern white rhinoceros are saved from extinction.