The rarest animal on the planet, there are only 2 individuals left in the world

This animal is extremely rare, there are only two individuals left in the world and scientists are trying to save this species from extinction.

Najin and Fatu, a sterile mother-daughter rhinoceros, are the last surviving members of the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratherium simum cottoni).

The species was once found across central Africa but was nearly wiped out due to illegal poaching, and is on the brink of extinction.

Fujin and Najin graze together, the last two of a critically endangered species. (Photo: Justin Mott/Washington Post).

But since neither Najin nor Fatu can get pregnant , experts are turning to genetic and reproductive innovation.

Researchers at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in California looked at skin cells taken from 12 different northern white rhinos stored in the Frozen Zoo , a repository of genetic material from more than a thousand different species.

They used computer models to see what would happen if the genetic material of these rhinos were used to create sperm and egg cells, which were then transferred into embryos and given to a closely related southern white rhino (Ceratherium simum simum) as a "surrogate mother".

The last two northern white rhinos left on Earth.

The team found that it was possible to restore the northern white rhino population over multiple generations without Fatu and Najin.

'Having a consistent genetic pool in the Frozen Zoo allows us to continually create new individuals and reintroduce them into the population ,' said Aryn Wilder, a researcher at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

Their models revealed that after 10 generations, the northern white rhinos in these simulations were not inbred, but instead a healthy, genetically diverse group.

That's good news for the future of the subspecies, as inbred animals tend to be more susceptible to disease and less likely to survive.

However, the road to complete success is still long and challenging. Researchers must chemically stimulate these frozen skin cell lines into viable sperm and egg stem cells.

There is also no guarantee that southern white rhinos can successfully carry northern white rhino embryos.

Even if the embryo transfer is successful, the pregnancy will need to be closely monitored and nurtured, and even if a healthy rhino is born, more breeding efforts will be required to establish a viable population.

However, there is another way to revive the white rhino : cloning: Stored cell lines could be used to create genetic copies of the dead animal.

The white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is found in southern Africa. It is 3.4 to 3.8 metres long and is characterised by its large square lips for grazing on the ground, two large horns and a hump at the back of its neck. It is the largest living rhinoceros.

There are two subspecies of white rhinoceros: the Southern White Rhinoceros and the Northern White Rhinoceros. The Southern White Rhinoceros is the most widespread rhinoceros in the world, with a population of around 20,000. They are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

In contrast to the southern subspecies, the northern white rhinoceros has only two individuals left. The last hope for the survival of this rhino subspecies is the genetic technology of the future .