South African scientists have produced the first test-tube buffalo brought into the world by In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), 40 years after the first human test-tube baby was born.
After three years and 20 failed attempts, the world’s first test tube buffalo calf has been born, a breakthrough in the fight to preserve endangered animals. And after the success of this project, South African scientists will now focus on breeding more endangered species, like the almost extinct northern white rhino.
SEE ALSO: With 3 of These Rhinos Left, Here’s a Chance to See Them Up Close
Reuters first reported the amazing story and said Pumelelo was already born on June 28, but only unveiled to the world this week at a game farm north of Johannesburg in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
“This success is of major importance for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and that is the reason why we are undertaking this work,” said Morne de la Rey, a veterinarian and the managing director of Embryo Plus, which specialises in bovine embryo transfers and semen collection, mostly for the cattle industry.
He could grow to 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) or more.
The technique could pave the way for future breeding of more endangered species such as the northern white rhino – only three of them are left on the planet.
Game farming is big business in South Africa, but those involved in the project said the main concern was conservation.
“The object is certainly not to reproduce buffalo of superior genetics … the goal is the conservation of species,” said Frans Stapelberg, the owner of the farm where Pumelelo was born.
The project will now focus on the three remaining northern white rhino which are being kept at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
The San Diego Zoo is partnering with that effort.
There are around 18,000 to 20,000 southern white rhinos left, mostly in South Africa, but they are being relentlessly poached for their horns to feed illicit demand in Asian countries such as Vietnam, where they are a prized ingredient in traditional medicine.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are around 900,000 Cape buffalo, also called African buffalo, on the continent, but they are now mostly confined to protected areas.
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