The BioRescue Consortium has made progressive strides in its mission to save the Northern White Rhino from imminent extinction. At the beginning of 2026, scientists successfully conducted an oocyte (egg cell) pick up procedure from the Northern White Rhino female Fatu in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya, consequently yielding one new Northern White Rhino embryo. This brings the total number of pure Northern White Rhino embryos produced so far to 39, boosting our hopes for the future of this imperiled subspecies.
With only two females left on Earth, the Northern White Rhino is functionally extinct from a natural breeding standpoint, leaving its fate in the hands of cutting edge assisted reproduction and innovative stem cell technologies to restore the species. In the second half of 2025, the team of experts from the Kenya Wildlife Service, Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Safari Park Dvůr Králové, Avantea, and Padua University successfully conducted three Northern White Rhino embryo transfers into Southern White Rhino surrogate mothers at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in the hope of a pregnancy down the line. Unfortunately none of these attempts have turned into a long term pregnancy. To enhance chances of achieving a pregnancy in the foreseeable future, two new proven southern white rhino females have also been introduced into the programme as potential surrogate mothers.
The BioRescue Consortium’s work has also received notable international recognition earlier this year. On 26 January 2026, Prof. Dr. Thomas B. Hildebrandt, the leader of the BioRescue Project at Leibniz-IZW, was honoured with the inaugural “Smart Wildlife Conservation Award” in Stockholm, Sweden. Prof. Hildebrandt was recognised for his “exceptional dedication and outstanding achievements to save endangered species” and for a commitment that has made “significant impact on smart wildlife conservation.” The award highlights not only Prof. Hildebrandt’s leadership, but also the collaborative scientific efforts behind the BioRescue Consortium and the growing international belief that innovative science can offer real hope for species on the brink of extinction.
A newly published BioRescue study has also underlined the importance of public engagement, communication, and ethical reflection in the future of conservation science. Published in PLOS ONE in February 2026, the paper Perceptions of assisted reproductive technologies in wildlife conservation: Public expectations and ethical implications across three EU countries examined public views in The Czech Republic, Germany, and Italy, and found broad support for the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in wildlife conservation when used alongside established approaches such as habitat protection and zoo-based conservation. The study further showed that respondents regarded ethical oversight and animal welfare as essential, while also highlighting the need for stronger public communication about the wider drivers of species decline, including the rhinoceros crisis. These findings reinforce BioRescue’s conviction that the future of conservation depends not only on scientific innovation, but also on transparency, public dialogue, and ethically responsible implementation.
While significant strides have been made, this project has demonstrated that science is not always linear - with different setbacks, and obstacles on the path to success. In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in rhinos is a complicated procedure that has never been tried before. Therefore, the project has been a learning curve for everyone involved. Despite the challenges, the team remains positive and continues to learn from the journey as we go forward. The team is cognisant that it took more than 100 attempts for IVF in humans to succeed, and that as of April 2026, the BioRescue Consortium had only conducted six embryo transfers. The team remains focussed on success and setting a solid foundational blueprint for saving other species on the brink of extinction.
PLOS One
Survey
People
Perceptions of assisted reproductive technologies in wildlife conservation: Public expectations and ethical implications across three EU countries
27-Feb-2026