A Pregnant Rhino in San Diego Could Help Save a Related Subspecies
A Pregnant Rhino in San Diego Could Help Save a Related Subspecies
This photo shows Victoria, a pregnant southern white rhino at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California on May 17, 2018. Julie Watson—AP Photo
By JULIE WATSON / AP 9:37 PM EDT
(SAN DIEGO) — A southern white rhino has become pregnant through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park — giving hope for efforts to save a subspecies of one of the world’s most recognizable animals, researchers announced Thursday.
Scientists will be watching closely to see if the rhino named Victoria can carry her calf to term over 16 to 18 months of gestation.
If she does, researchers hope someday she could serve as a surrogate mother and could give birth to the related northern white rhino, whose population is down to two females after decades of decimation by poachers. The mother and daughter northern white rhinos that live in a Kenya wildlife preserve are not capable of bearing calves.
The last northern white male rhino, named Sudan, was euthanized in March at the Kenya preserve because of ailing health related to his old age.
More:
http://time.com/5281819/rhino-pregnant-san-diego-save-subspecies/