Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 31 July 2019
Rhinoceros conceived artificially born at California zoo

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A southern white rhino whose
conservation organization eggs were fertilized in vi-
in San Diego says it has tro. However, the embryo
achieved the first success- transferred at Chorzow zoo
ful artificial insemination is smaller than expected. It
birth of a southern white remains to be seen wheth-
rhino in North America, an er it will implant in the moth-
important step in saving er's uterine lining and result
another rhino species from in a pregnancy.
extinction. "There are a lot of techni-
San Diego Zoo Global an- cal problems that will be
nounced that mother Vic- solved, but it will take time,"
toria gave birth Sunday to Cesare Galli, whose com-
a healthy southern white pany specializes in artifi-
rhino male calf in the barn cial reproduction of horses,
at the San Diego Zoo Safari told The Associated Press in
Park after 30 minutes of la- June .
bor. The last male northern
"All of us at San Diego Zoo white rhino, named Sudan,
Global are elated with the died in March 2018. Scien-
arrival of this special rhino tists had preserved frozen
calf," said Barbara Durrant, sperm samples from sev-
director of reproductive eral males they are hoping
science at San Diego Zoo to use to revive the species.
Global. This Monday, July 29, 2019 photo provided by the San Diego Zoo shows a day-old southern white Rhinos have long been
rhino calf stands beside its resting mother, Victoria, at the at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center
Victoria was artificially in- at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, Calif. from poached because
seminated with frozen se- Associated Press of their horns, and several
men from southern white sub-species are at risk of
rhino Maoto in March — including Amani, anoth- said. nos is very complex, but extinction. Southern rhi-
2018 following hormone- er rhino pregnant through The northern white rhino is researchers are optimistic nos are classified as near
induced ovulation. Victoria artificial insemination due a distant subspecies of the that a northern white rhino threatened on the Interna-
carried her calf for over a to give birth in September southern white rhino. Only calf could be born from tional Union for Conserva-
year — 493 days. Mother or October. two northern white rhinos these processes within 10 tion of Nature Red List of
and calf will remain off ex- "Not only are we thankful currently remain on Earth to 20 years. Threatened Species.
hibit to the public to allow for a healthy calf, but this — both female. In May, scientists at the Pol- Conservationists say rhinos
them time to bond for now. birth is significant, as it also Scientists say the southern ish zoo Chorzow successful- are important for the sur-
The calf will eventually be represents a critical step in white rhinos will be serving ly completed a procedure vival of many other species
introduced to the other five our effort to save the north- as surrogates for northern where they transferred a because of the role they
female rhinos at the Nikita ern white rhino from the white rhino embryos. The northern rhino test tube play in landscaping their
Kahn Rhino Rescue Center brink of extinction," Durrant reproductive system of rhi- embryo back into a female native habitat.q
Study: Rising ocean temperatures It's official: UK broke

killing Guam coral reefs temperature record

during heat wave
MANGILAO, Guam (AP) coast are gone, scientists provide coastal protection
— A third of Guam's coral said. and contribute to Guam's
reefs have died because "Never in our history of look- tourism industry, Raymundo LONDON (AP) — Britain has tist Mark McCarthy said
of rising ocean tempera- ing at reefs have we seen said. A multi-agency Guam officially had its hottest day climate change was mak-
tures, researchers said. something this severe," said Coral Reef Response team on record. ing extreme temperatures
University of Guam re- Laurie Raymundo, UOG monitors the island's reefs Weather agency the Met more common.
searchers said increased marine lab director and and tries to revive coral Office says the tempera- He said "climate change
temperatures killed 34% marine biology professor. communities in line with a ture reached 38.7 C (101.7 has increased the likeli-
of Guam's coral reefs be- The study was published in 2017 recovery plan. Guam F) at Cambridge University hood and severity of heat-
tween 2013 and 2017, The the scientific journal Coral is now in watch status for Botanic Garden in eastern wave episodes across Eu-
Pacific Daily News report- Reefs. another mass bleaching England during last week's rope, which will have also
ed Monday. The problem is too urgent event, which precedes heat wave. increased the risks of a 40
About 60% of the reefs to ignore because corals large-scale reef death. The temperature was re- Celsius temperature event
along Guam's eastern are vital to fish habitats, "Once we see tempera- corded Thursday and con- in the U.K."q
tures starting to rise, this firmed Monday after "qual-
is when we activate our ity control and analysis" by
plan," said Whitney Hoot, the Met Office.
Guam Bureau of Statistics The previous U.K. record
and Plans coral reef resil- was 38.5 C (101.3 F), set in
ience coordinator. August 2003.
Negative effects could Temperature records fell
be reduced by making across Europe last week as
changes in local stressors a suffocating heat wave
such as Guam's pollution, swept up from the Sahara.
sewage system and plastic Met office climate scien-
waste, researchers said.q