Indonesia wants to save rhinos
Photo: John Minchillo/AP/TT

Indonesia wants to save rhinos with IVF

The last two known wild Bornean rhinos are in high demand. Now, the Indonesian government wants to capture one of them in an attempt to preserve the species through in vitro fertilization.

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There are only two known Bornean rhinos left in the world, both females. One of them, Pahu, is found in the Kelian Rhino Sanctuary and the other, Pari, lives in the wild in Kutai Kartanegara.

Previous attempts to retrieve eggs from Pahu have failed. Now hope lies with Pari, who is believed to be younger than Pahu.

The hope is that the Bornean rhinoceros is genetically similar enough to the Sumatran rhinoceros that some genetic heritage can be saved from the Bornean lineage.

If in vitro fertilization is successful, surrogates would likely be used for a safer pregnancy, says Ari Wibawanto of the provincial nature conservation agency in East Kalimantan.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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