Link To Article: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/1/24/the-worlds-first-ivf-rhino-pregnancy-could-save-a-species
The northern white rhino is a species that is nearly extinct with only 2 female rhinos left after the last male died in 2018. This species was once found spread across central Africa but due to illegal poaching, it has wiped out the wild population leaving only 2 rhinos being protected in Kenya. Scientists recently performed the world’s first IVF rhino pregnancy by implanting a lab created embryo in a southern white rhino, the northern white rhino’s cousin. The scientists believe this technique could be used to save the cousin rhinos and grow the size of the species back to a more normal abundance. IVF across a sub species has never been tested before but there is much confidence this will work.
This article is not only important for the region but for the whole world. Regionally, if this experiment succeeds, it will bring back an animal species helping nature work how it should be. And globally which it would have a greater effect on, this is life changing information that could help strengthen smaller sizes of species near extinction like the bald eagle or it could even potentially bring back a once extinct animal. It would even be unbelievable if it works on humans which could change lives for thousands of people. If this does happen, it would be a groundbreaking discovery forever changing how we see science. However there is a chance that poaching will continue if not gain more popularity. A classical realist would look at this and think if there’s a chance to keep them alive, the poachers will always have a source for whatever they are poaching for (horns/etc).
One thing we have learned in class that could come from this article is the core of reciprocity. The core of reciprocity is a part of the liberal approach which states that international institutions operate by cooperation. I think this works best in this scenario because if Kenya can get help from other countries or organizations to help the IVF experiment, it would lead to the trade of new technologies/ideas. In the end of this hypothetical, both sides would achieve their goals proving the core of reciprocity is successful.