In 1970s, South Africa reintroduced 20 southern white rhinoceros to Kenya, with a population of about 170, of which 120 was in a private rescue center and the remaining 50 lived in two national parks. Through efforts, the number of well-protected southern white rhinoceros is increasing. According to the statistics of 200 1, the total number of southern white rhinoceros is about 1 1, 600. By 2007, the number had increased to about 17460, of which 16255 lived in South Africa.
The total number of rhinoceros in Africa decreased from about 65,000 in 1970 to more than 20,000, which was once listed as an endangered species by IUCN. Fortunately, the southern white rhinoceros has been well protected, with the number of nearly 20,000, and the protection level has been reduced to near-endangered (CR). South Africa is the main stronghold of the southern white rhinoceros, with nearly 93%. Although the southern white rhinoceros with a population of more than 10,000 is still the largest rhinoceros, they have not completely avoided the threat of poaching and traffic accidents. Therefore, in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the white rhinoceros is listed in Appendix II. There are great differences in genes between northern white rhinoceros and southern white rhinoceros, and their skulls and teeth are also different. They once multiplied in Uganda, but gradually disappeared due to the neglect of protection by the local government. In Guaramba National Park, their number reached 35 in the late 1980s and 30 in April 2003. Then six were killed and four were born.
Affected by the civil war and social unrest, the number of northern white rhinoceros that once wandered in Uganda, Sudan and Congo continued to decline. By 2000, there were only 30 white rhinos left in Congo. Although the trade of ivory rhinoceros horn is banned all over the world, the black market is still in full swing. Yemen has a special rhinoceros horn market, where the dagger with handle made of rhinoceros horn is the focus of many buyers and sellers, and it is a symbol of status. Due to indiscriminate hunting and hunting, the number of white rhinoceros in the north decreased sharply, and finally it became extinct in Africa. There are almost no more than ten rhinoceros living in zoos.
In 2009, living in Czech Dv? Four northern white rhinoceros in r Králové Zoo became the only hope to save this subspecies, and they were sent to Opeyata Wildlife Sanctuary in Kenya for artificial protection in their former habitats. However, in 20 14, a male rhinoceros named "Suni" died.
In 20 15, Sudan, the last surviving male northern white rhinoceros in the world, was guarded by four armed police for 24 hours to save this endangered subspecies.
Due to the rising price of rhinoceros horn, this rhinoceros is still in the crisis of being stolen and killed. In order to protect it, its rhino horn was removed, but it is still considered that this is not enough to protect it. But even if there is no rhinoceros horn at present, the relevant staff in Kenya are still worried about its safety. It was transported from Kenya to the Czech Republic for protection. This rhinoceros spends most of its time eating. These four armed men are under great threat while protecting rhinos, and those poachers are likely to attack them for profit.
This male northern white rhinoceros is 43 years old, and it is likely to live to 50 years old. These short years will be the last chance to save this subspecies. In 2009, it and two female northern white rhinos were protected in the Czech Zoo. It was hoped that these rhinos could reproduce, but this attempt failed because another male rhino died last year.
Rhinos have few natural enemies in the wild, except humans. There are only five northern white rhinos left in the world, of which only one is male. Three white rhinos still living in Kenya are in greater danger. People once pinned all their hopes on this male rhinoceros and let it breed with the female rhinoceros, so that the population will reach 30 in the next 10 year. But this attempt also failed, because this rhinoceros is old. The wild northern white rhinoceros no longer exists. There are only two female northern white rhinoceros left in the world, both in Czech Zoo. Hermes is a zoologist at the Institute of Zoology and Wildlife of Leibniz College in Berlin. Under his leadership, experts will conduct artificial insemination, in vitro insemination and embryo sex selection experiments on rhinoceros. If this experiment is successful, they will make a special contribution to wildlife protection.
The next step is artificial insemination of rhinoceros: the reproductive system of this huge, unruly and aggressive herbivore has always been a mystery in veterinary science. However, using modern medical equipment such as ultrasonic scanners, experts successfully gave birth to a calf through artificial insemination. Through the experiment of southern white rhinoceros, we can apply our experience to northern white rhinoceros.
It is best for rhinos to have a calf every two years, so that the number of calves that two female rhinos may give birth to can be strictly controlled. Experts also have some other countermeasures. After discovering the similarities between the northern and southern white rhinoceroses, experts are studying how to extract eggs from the old rhinoceros, thus establishing the egg bank of the northern white rhinoceros and gradually incubating it. The hatched embryos can be injected into the southern white rhinoceros for its reproduction.
Experts also plan to use separation technology to extract maternal sperm from male sperm. Experts said: "This method ensures that we only produce female northern white rhinoceros. And these females can give birth to more white rhinos. Thereby saving the number of endangered northern white rhinoceros. "
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