Printable Version of Topic Click here to view this topic in its original format

Rhino Resource Center: Rhino Forums > Rhinos in Captivity > Breeding > Northern White Rhino - last chance

Posted by: rhinohelp Aug 10 2009, 12:19 PM

The Northern White Rhino is extinct in the Wild and the only 4 fertile animals are to be moved to Kenya where it is hoped that they will be stimulated to breed under natural conditions. We believe that the chances now for the Northerns White Rhino to breed are very slim. We have a proposal for the survival of the Northern White Rhino. For now this is not official but there are several people advocating this plan. We are advocating the creation of subspecific hybrids with Southern White Rhinos through artificial insemination of Southern females with Northern semen. Artificial insemination has worked to produce pure Southerns. It has so far failed in Northerns. This is the quickest and cheapest way to produce a large number of animals containing Northern DNA. It is hoped that these subspecific hybrids could be used to rebreed or recreate the Northern White Rhino in future. We would be very happy if pure Northerns were born too, especially for their mtDNA component, as this would be lacking in subspecific hybrids between male Northerns and female Southerns. We are already raising funds for this innitiative. Please reply here or email rhino_help@live.co.za. with your thoughts or for more information.