Our Friends From the North

The Northern white is a Rhinoceros sub-species. It is functionally extinct. This sub-species was essentially wiped out, by poachers taking its horn for traditional Chinese medicine. There are now apparently-realistic plans to 'resuscitate' the Northern white rhinoceros (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/dec/18/return-of-the-northern-white-rhino-back-from-extinction). Eggs and sperm of the sub-species have been stored in liquid nitrogen. The plan is to combine them to produce viable embryos, before implanting them into a closely-related sub-species of rhinoceros. The final intention is to generate sufficient numbers of these animals for a return to their natural African habitat. Although this technology seems likely to work, the number of animals that be produced, is likely to be very limited. The genetic diversity (and hence the likely long-term viability) of the generated animals is also likely to be problematic. It might actually be better spend money improving the chances of current sub-species surviving the attentions of poachers.