African extinct animal: northern white rhinoceros

The northern white rhino was said to have gone extinct in 2008. Wild specimens were said to have disappeared completely and never to be seen again. However, in 2009, a northern white rhinoceros was found alive in a zoo in the Czech Republic. Only two northern white rhinos are currently in breeding programs.

Endangered African Species: White Rhinoceros

The white rhino is an endangered animal that lives on the African continent. It is already extinct in Sudan and Central Africa. There are subspecies of white rhino, including northern white rhino and southern white rhino. Unfortunately, the Northern White Rhinoceros is already extinct.

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2022.02.03

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habitat

Wild northern white rhinos lived in the African continent, especially near the center.

feature

The northern white rhinoceros is 300-400cm long and weighs 2000-3000kg. The northern white rhinoceros is a subspecies of the white rhinoceros and belongs to the perissodactyla, which is classified in the genus White rhinoceros in the family Perissodactyla Mammalia. The northern white rhino has the same characteristics as the white rhino, but recently there is a hypothesis that the northern white rhino is not the ancestor of the white rhino. The northern white rhino has two horns on its head and can grow up to 160 cm. There are 24 teeth in total, 6 upper and lower molars and 6 upper and lower molars. Their primary habitat is savannah, where they tend to form small flocks. Groups are formed around 10 to 20 animals, and they have a strong sense of territory rather than urinate and feces in a fixed place. Africa is very hot, so during the day they rest in the shade of trees or drink water or bathe in the mud.

ecology

The northern white rhino is a herbivore and usually lives on trees, leaves, and grass. The breeding mode is viviparous. The gestation period is 530-550 days, allowing one litter to be born at a time. The northern white rhino is said to have a lifespan of about 50 years.

endangered species

The northern white rhino was originally widely distributed in central Africa. The original population was over 1000. But the problem started in the late 1900s. In Africa, land development has progressed, and the places where white rhinos can live have gradually decreased. Not only that, but the medicinal use of white rhino horns has led to overhunting by humans. As a result, the northern white rhino population has rapidly declined, and in 2008 it was found that the northern white rhino was completely extinct in the wild. The northern white rhinoceros, which was thought to have disappeared completely, was found to have been kept in a zoo in the Czech Republic, and a breeding plan is now underway. After this, the living rhino was transferred to Kenya and artificial breeding was attempted, but one male died in 2014, and then the last male died.

breeding project

The northern white rhino is currently undergoing a breeding plan. The last white rhino has died, but the sperm has been cryopreserved. In 2022, a research team at Osaka University in Japan succeeded in producing primordial germ cell-like cells that are the source of sperm from northern white rhinoceros iPS cells. Possibly, it is said that this may be the trigger for in vitro fertilization and breeding. iPS cells are a technology created by Professor Yamanaka, a Japanese medical scientist and Nobel Prize winner for medicine. Expectations are rising because human cells can be rejuvenated by culturing using iPS cells.