Kenya Wildlife Service has continued to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation by being a member of the Biorescue consortium that is making every effort to secure the future of the critically endangered Northern White Rhino.
At the close of February 2025, the Biorescue team headed by Dr. Isaac Lekolool, the Senior Assistant Director and Head of Veterinary and Capture Services at KWS, with support from Dr. Jeremiah Poghon, the Senior Principal Veterinary Officer and Regional Veterinarian for the Mountain Conservation Area undertook two key activities at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
The first procedure was a sterility check on ‘Jomo’, a Southern White Rhino teaser bull that plays a critical role of detecting estrus in the female surrogate Southern White Rhinos in preparation for embryo transfer. Ensuring his sterility is imperative to prevent the risk of impregnation of the Southern White Rhino surrogate females during the surrogacy process.
On the second day, the team turned their attention to Daly, one of the selected surrogate mothers under the NWR ARP.
A pregnancy check was conducted to confirm her status and suitability as an ideal candidate for carrying a NWR embryo to term. For the ARP to succeed, it is essential that the surrogate mother is not already pregnant and the reproductive tract is healthy so as to ensure she can safely carry a Northern White Rhino embryo.
This historic initiative is part of a collaborative effort by the Biorescue Consortium, which brings together Kenya Wildlife Service, the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research-Berlin, Safari Park Dvůr Králové-Czech Republic, the Wildlife Research and Training Institute-Kenya, Avantea Laboratories-Italy, Padua University-Italy, Max Delbbruck Centre for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Kyushu University-Japan and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, among other partners.
The project, now in its seventh year, is one of the most ambitious and innovative wildlife conservation efforts globally. The significance of this mission cannot be overstated. With only two surviving Northern White Rhino females left in the world, advanced reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization and surrogacy represent the species’ best hope for survival. Through this initiative, conservationists aim to reintroduce this majestic species to its natural habitat in the sub-Saharan savanna.
As the government’s lead agency mandated to conserve and protect wildlife, KWS’s pivotal role in this initiative underscores its dedication to safeguarding Kenya’s rich biodiversity.
By collaborating with global partners on cutting-edge conservation science, KWS continues to set the standard for wildlife preservation and restoration, ensuring future generations have the chance to witness the splendor of species like the Northern White Rhino.
