<h5>How many northern white rhinos remain in the world?</h5><p>The northern white rhino is on the brink of extinction. The last two northern white rhinos of the planet reside in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Imagine what you would feel like if only two humans were left on Earth, and you were one of them. Being in that situation can be terrifying and lonely. We don’t know how the two rhinos are feeling. But it’s very sad.</p><p>Najin and Fatu are the names of the rhinos. They are mother and daughter. None of them can reproduce naturally, as there are no male white rhinos left. The duo munches grass and sleeps throughout the day. Armed guards also protect them to save them from poachers.</p><p>With no males to mate with, experts say the northern white rhino will be extinct soon. But let’s not lose hope. An international team of scientists has been working for the past seven years to bring this species back from the brink of extinction.</p><h5>How are scientists trying to save white rhinos?</h5><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/scientists-trying-to-save-northern-white-rhinos%2Fguard-sleeping-next-to-one-of-the-two-remaining-white-rhinos.jpeg?alt=media&amp;token=b04be186-4bb2-46be-a122-127d901c4f17"><figcaption><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A guard sleeping next to one of the two remaining white rhinos. Photo by Matjaz Krivic.</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The name of this project is the BioRescue project. Scientists under this project are trying to use cutting-edge research technology to produce ‘test tube rhinos'. They say this can help the species survive. Northern white rhinos were plentiful in eastern and central Africa. But poaching, habitat destruction, etc., caused populations to fall.</p><p>By the 1980s, only 15 rhinos remained in the wild. Experts thought the small number of animals that remained in captivity would be able to restart the population. But that didn’t happen. Northern white rhinos do not reproduce well in captivity. Also, Sudan, the last male white rhino, died in 2018.</p><p>Scientists will be using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to revive the population of this species. IVF is a particular way of helping people or animals have babies. IVF helps create a baby outside of the mother’s body.</p><h5>When is the first baby white rhino expected?</h5><p>The IVF procedure is done in a laboratory located in Italy. Just like other experiments, the IVF process doesn't always succeed. But the scientists were able to make 24 embryos. After the embryos are created, they are frozen away to be used in the future. The embryos will be implanted into surrogate southern white rhinos.</p><p>The scientists will travel to Kenya later this year to implant one of their embryos into one of the surrogates. Rhino pregnancies last about 18 months. The first baby might be born as early as 2024. Hopefully, soon, the white rhino population will again increase.</p><h5>What did we learn from this article?</h5><p>We learned how science is being used for a good purpose. Throughout history, human activities have played a part in the extinction of many species. Now, scientists are trying to reverse it. Efforts are being made to protect and conserve endangered species. Let’s hope these projects become successful.</p>

Scientists are now utilising science to save animals that are on the brink of extinction.

Scientists Trying to Save Northern White Rhinos

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Scientists Trying to Save Northern White Rhinos

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