UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

De-extinction of the Northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni)

Identification

Public canonical key

radar:r-e9da2dc8e1262ba32d7b3d55b7707dc1

Authors

Thomas B. HILDEBRANDT · Susanne Holtze · Pierfrancesco Biasetti · Julia Bohner · Daniel Čižmár · Silvia Colleoni · Barbara de Mori · Sebastian Diecke · Cesare Galli · Katsuhiko Hayashi · Florence KANGETHE · Marisa L. Korody · Isaac Lekolool · David Ndeereh · Linus Kariuki · Giovanna Lazzari · Domnic Mijele · Samuel Mutisya · Stephen Ngulu · Patrick Omondi · S. Seet · Vera Zywitza · Jan Stejskal · Frank Göritz

Reported year

2026

Reported language

en

Source type

review

First detected

2026-11-13T12:47:33.314991+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-13T12:47:33.314991+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research · Freie Universität Berlin · University of Padua · Avantea · Max Delbrück Center · Kyushu University · The University of Osaka · Kenya Wildlife Service · Wildlife Research and Training Institute · Mitutoyo Corporation (Japan) · Kenya Land Alliance

Reported affiliation countries

DE · IT · JP · KE

Documentary abstract — original language

The last survivors of the northern white rhinoceros (NWR, Ceratotherium simum cottoni), once widespread across Central and East Africa, are two non-reproductive females under continuous human protection. In order to prevent the extinction of this white rhinoceros subspecies, the BioRescue consortium founded in 2019 has developed an innovative reproductive biotechnology program. This holistic rescue strategy implements (i) advanced assisted reproductive technologies (aART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer, (ii) stem cell associated techniques (SCAT) for establishing in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), and (iii) a pangenetic rescue strategy (PRS) that uses the full spectrum of genetic diversity still available by incorporating DNA sequence information from the globally available NWR-museum specimens combined with gene editing to enrich the genetic diversity of the future living population. Key milestones of the BioRescue consortium are: 26 non-surgical oocyte collections in NWR followed by in-vitro oocyte maturation and embryo generation, first pregnancy in a southern white rhino (SWR) surrogate after heterologous embryo transfer, establishment of two SWR embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines, NWR induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines derived from somatic tissue, and robust primordial germ cell-like cell (PGCLC) induction as a first step towards IVG. Beyond biological and technical challenges, an essential part of the BioRescue project's operational framework addresses the ethical dimension of this new approach in conservation, ensuring transparency, animal welfare, and societal accountability. This multidisciplinary strategy offers a replicable model in conservation science for rescuing critically endangered or practically extinct species, linking the most advanced reproductive technologies with ethical oversight to safeguard biodiversity.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

https://openalex.org/W7165008756

DOI

10.1262/jrd.2025-122

PMID

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42309770

PMCID

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/13286710

Documentary context

Documentary family

unknown

Source-reported types

review

Publishers

Japanese Society of Animal Reproduction

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1

• Document · https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2025-122

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.