Rhino cows with endometriosis can be helped
The senior veterinarian in the field of animal reproduction from South Africa, Dr. Morné de la Rey and his assistant, Carla Herbst, recently visited the Rhino Momma project with the Wildlife Vets Namibia team and examined some rhinos that had not calved in a long time, or in some cases never.Dr De la Rey and his company, Embryo Plus, began using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in cattle in 1980. These techniques involve the manipulation of sperm, oocytes and embryos in vitro with the aim of creating a pregnancy. (In vitro is the term used to describe organic processes that take place outside of a living organism, in contrast to those that take place "in vivo" in the living organism.)
In 2017, Dr. De la Rey founded the non-profit organisation Rhino Repro. Rhino Repro's goal is to ensure the survival of the white and black rhino by supporting the species with ART methods.
“They paid us a visit because there are three rhino cows on the reserve that have never had a calf. The first heifer was still young, but it was expected that she would have a calf by now. An ultrasound showed she was 10 months pregnant - great news!” says the Rhino Momma Project.
The other two cows were examined and found not to be pregnant. "These cows' ovaries weren't looking very good, and they had endometriosis (abnormal growths in multiple parts of the uterus) that would make it difficult for them to conceive."
So a procedure was performed to essentially "reset" the ovaries and the hormones they produce. In 14 to 28 days the cows should be in heat. “In many cases, the rhino only needs one treatment. In other cases the cow will need one or two follow-up treatments two and four months later.” This is the first time this procedure has been carried out in Namibia.
The project stated: "This type of science is very important and extremely effective in increasing rhino populations and ultimately saving them from extinction."