Once roaming across Central Africa, the northern white rhino is now on the brink of extinction. Decades of poaching for their horns, valued in illegal trade, devastated their population. Today, only two northern white rhinos remain—both female and living under constant protection in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

The story of Najin and Fatu, the last of their kind, has become a symbol of humanity’s impact on wildlife and the urgent need for conservation. Scientists are racing against time, using advanced reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and stem cell research. Stored sperm from deceased northern white rhinos may offer a glimmer of hope for creating embryos, which could then be implanted into surrogate southern white rhinos. While the path forward is fraught with challenges, the dedication of conservationists worldwide serves as a testament to the lengths we can go to save a species from disappearing forever.