People I (Mostly) Admire 135. How to Grow a White Rhino
Jul 6, 2024
Thomas Hildebrandt, a wildlife veterinarian and professor at the Freie Universität Berlin, is on a mission to save the northern white rhino from extinction. He discusses innovative techniques like in vitro fertilization and using southern white rhinos as surrogates. Thomas shares his emotional journey and the challenges faced in wildlife conservation, including securing funding and navigating technological ethics. With a hopeful vision, he aims to boost the rhino population to 50 by 2099, all while reflecting on his childhood dreams and the impact of the Berlin Wall.
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Rhino CPR
- Thomas Hildebrandt performed CPR on a rhino by jumping on its chest after a miscalculated anesthetic dose.
- Surprisingly, the rhino recovered and successfully impregnated females after years of infertility.
Northern vs. Southern White Rhinos
- The northern and southern white rhinos, separated by the Rift Valley, adapted to different environments over 200,000 years.
- Reintroducing the northern white rhino is crucial for ecosystem balance, affecting insects, bats, and potentially preventing disease outbreaks.
Conservation vs. Economics
- Hildebrandt believes saving the northern white rhino is a human responsibility due to human actions causing their near extinction.
- However, he finds that ethical arguments are less effective for fundraising than economic justifications.