News Date
Step by step towards a blueprint
News Content
BioRescue consortium continues ambitious rhino reproduction programme with successful oocyte collection at Schwerin Zoo (Germany).
The team of scientists from the Leibniz-IZW successfully collected 26 oocytes from 2 southern white rhino females in the German Zoo of Schwerin on November 18, 2020. The collected oocytes have been transferred to the Avantea laboratory in Italy, where they are going to be matured and fertilized using the ICSI technology. These procedures are conducted by the BioRescue consortium in order to overcome reproduction challenges of southern white rhinos in European Zoos, for example when mating partners for females cannot be transferred due to the current pandemic. They can also serve as blueprints for similar procedures in northern white rhinos to avert their extinction.
Dr. Susanne Holtze (BioRescue Scientist, Leibniz-IZW) operating the ultrasound machine together with Prof. Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt (BioRescue Project Head and Head of Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-IZW) and Prof. Dr. Robert Hermes (BioRescue Scientist and Rhino Specialist, Leibniz-IZW) during the oocyte collection procedure. | Photo by Jon Juarez and Elena Gyldenkerne
Boilerplates
Title
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)
Title
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)
Description
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) is an internationally renowned German research institute of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our mission is to examine evolutionary adaptations of wildlife to global change and develop new concepts and measures for the conservation of biodiversity. To achieve this, our scientists use their broad interdisciplinary expertise from biology and veterinary medicine to conduct fundamental and applied research – from molecular to landscape level – in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally we are committed to unique and high quality services for the scientific community.
Title
Schwerin Zoo
Title
Schwerin Zoo
Description
We are actively involved in a variety of projects for the protection of endangered species and make every effort - always within the bounds of our possibilities - to manage the "Zoo operation" in a sustainable and resource-saving manner. Schwerin Zoo is also subject to certain constraints and therefore cannot always act as we would like to.
But we are convinced that we too can make a difference with small steps.
But we are convinced that we too can make a difference with small steps.
Title
Avantea
Title
Avantea
Description
Avantea is a laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction based in Cremona, Italy. Avantea has over twenty years of experience and the know-how in assisted reproduction of livestock developed through years of research conducted in the biomedical and animal reproduction fields.
Contacts
Title
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)
Name
Jan Zwilling
Description
Science Communication Office
Contact Number
+49 (0)30 5168121
Contact Email
zwilling@izw-berlin.de
