The first southern white rhinoceros was born by IVF

The success of the method of artificial insemination opens hope to revive an extinct white rhino subspecies in nature.

The first southern white rhinoceros conceived through in vitro fertilization on July 28 was born healthy at San Diego Zoo, USA. This is an important milestone in the effort to revitalize the North's white rhino from the brink of extinction.

Baby rhinos are born through artificial insemination at the American zoo.(Photo: AFP).

The calf is born by a 7-year-old female rhino after 493 days of pregnancy. Victoria's mother rhinoceros was successfully fertilized with the frozen semen of another male male rhino named Maoto in March last year.

"We are happy that everything is going smoothly. Victoria always takes care of and feeds regularly. Her calves were able to stand up and walk," said Barbara Durrant from San Diego Zoo.

There are only two individuals of Northern white rhinos remaining on Earth. Both are children and no longer able to become pregnant due to health problems. Males eventually died last year in the Ol Pejeta conservation area in Kenya, but before that, scientists could collect a significant amount of semen to preserve.

With about 18,000 southern white rhino individuals in the wild, scientists hope they can "pregnant households" for Northern white rhinos. There are many challenges ahead, but the researchers are still optimistic about the possibility that a Northern white rhino can be produced by artificial insemination within 10-20 years.