Are We Too Late?

 

The white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinoceros is the largest extant species of rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros consists of two subspecies: the southern white rhinoceros, with an estimated 19,682–21,077 wild-living animals in the year 2015, and the much rarer northern white rhinoceros. The northern subspecies has very few remaining individuals, with only two confirmed left in 2018. The two remaining are both females – named Fatu and Najin who are both now in captivity in Sudan. The last known male white rhinoceros died in Kenya in March, 2018.

So now what? With no male member of the species alive, there is no way for the species to continue.

Have we lost yet another species from the surface of the Earth? Are we once again, as is becoming characteristic of Human Beings, responsible for the eradication of another species? Yes…and no.

The problem is the same – poaching. Poachers have been hunting rhinoceros for their horns for over 50 years. Their horns are in high demand among ancient tribal communities as well as underworld markets. They are often sold for close to a million per horn. While wildlife agencies did enforce restrictions and heavy penalties to poachers, pervasive corruption meant that the regulations were of little effect.

Scientists and wildlife conservationists together had the foresight to prepare for the worst case scenario. Though lacking the technology at the time, scientists in the 1970’s harnessed male gametes of northern white rhinoceros with the vision that sometime in the future, they might help combat the inevitable extinction event the rhino population was heading towards. This practice of collecting the gametes has continued to this day, and now, while the last male rhinoceros is no more – the gamete is still viable. We still can prevent the northern white rhino from being extinct. The scientists are now working towards creating a viable embryo that one of the two female white rhinos can carry. 

With the progress of techno-logy, humans have ideated a solution.

To use a relative species – the southern white rhino as a surrogate mother. On August 22, 2019, the first embryo was prepared and researchers are now closing on a possible surrogate southern rhino to revive the species. What is amazing is that for all the damage we as humans inflict onto the environment, this is also the first time we have made our impact to modify a species in a positive sense. 40 years ago, this wouldn’t have been possible, but today we stand a chance. But remember, we do not play the role of God. We do not get to reverse our actions in entirety. Yes, with technology and science we are able to help a species, but it really isn’t the same. We have been fortunate enough in this case to get the chance to make amends for our actions, but the lesson is still profound – we are eradicating species and our scientific actions and awareness must come sooner, rather than later.