The scientific article titled “In vitro fertilization program in white Rhinoceros,” published in October 2023 in the journal Reproduction, has received the prestigious award for Best Research by the Society for Reproduction and Fertility for its study on advanced assisted reproductive technologies (aART) in white rhinoceroses.
The BioRescue project team, in which AVANTEA is a leading partner with Prof. Cesare Galli and Dr. Silvia Colleoni, has demonstrated that procedures such as ovum pick-up (OPU) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are safe for female rhinoceroses, have positive effects on fertility, and result in the production of viable embryos.
Since 2019, in the laboratories of Avantea, 35 embryos have been produced using the sperm of the deceased males Suni and Angalifu and the oocytes collected from Fatu, one of the last two remaining northern white rhinoceros (NWR) females. Five of these embryos were created in 2024, contributing to a vital genetic reserve crucial for the species’ survival.
Another significant milestone was the first successful embryo transfer: an in vitro-produced southern white rhinoceros embryo was transferred into a surrogate mother at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, resulting in a confirmed pregnancy. This achievement marks a breakthrough in rhinoceros conservation and paves the way for future transfers of northern white rhinoceros embryos, bringing the team closer to its goal of preventing the species’ extinction.