#avantea

[amivitale]

Photos by @amvitale. On this day, four years ago, Sudan, the last living male northern white rhino passed away. At 45, Sudan was elderly for his species. He had lived a long life and had found stardom as the “most eligible bachelor in the world.” In his final moments, there was only silence except for drops of rain and the muffled tears of the people who loved and protected him. I think back often on this moment and it is the silence that I remember most - a haunting silence that seemed to foreshadow what a world without wildlife would be like. Without these creatures, we suffer more than the loss of an ecosystem. We suffer a loss of imagination, a loss of wonder, a loss of possibilities. Figuring out how to create a sustainable and just human society that doesn’t destroy the natural world is our single most important challenge. Hope always remains. What’s going to save us all is to get beyond our routine ways of thinking. Wonder is what allows us to reimagine our future together. Wonder allows us to believe that we can fundamentally change the course we are currently on. Thanks to the groundbreaking and inspiring work of the @biorescue_project there are now northern white rhino embryos that will be transferred into a surrogate southern white rhino mother in the near future. The species may still be saved from extinction. Learn more, including how you can donate, by following and supporting @BioRescue_project and @olpejeta, @SafariParkDvurKralove @leibnizizw @SafariParkDvurKralove @KenyaWildlifeService @OlPejeta Conservancy @elodiesampre #Avantea @tunajibu @tourism_wildlifeke @bmbf.bund @leibnizgemeinschaft @natgeo #kenya #NorthernWhiteRhinos #nikonambassador #nikonnofilter #rhinos (at Ol Pejeta Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbTZvdqPFYs/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jimabernethy]

#Repost from our friends @vegan_giannameoni @download.ins --- #Repost @amivitale with @make_repost ・・・ Vídeo by @amivitale. And here we have the adorable Mia and Emilka. Mia, the kitty had her tail bitten off by a different rhino when she was a little thing. But she persisted, kept her heart open, and one day found true love with a rhino named Emilka at Dvur Kralove (@safariparkdvurkralove) in the Czech Republic. This is the same place where the last northern white rhinos came from. @safariparkdvurkralove has been instrumental in saving species from the brink of extinction. @omaze @biorescue_project @leibnizizw #Avantea @KenyaWildlifeService @SafariParkDvurKralove @bmbf.bund @leibnizgemeinschaft @MinistryOfTourismAndWildlifeKE @natgeo @natgeoimagecollection @thephotosociety @nikonusa @photography.for.good #WorthMoreAlive #protectrhinos #DontLetThemDisappear #rhinos #saverhinos #stoppoaching #prague #czechrepublic #photojournalism #nikon #nikonambassador #nikonnofilter #nikonlove #natureisspeaking #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitties #cat #amivitale https://www.instagram.com/p/CCuV_AgBQ5A/?igshid=5cvk1k21es8d

[hope-for-the-planet]

There are currently two northern white rhinos alive on planet earth. They are a mother and daughter named Najin and Fatu and neither is capable of carrying a pregnancy. The last male of the species, Sudan, died of old age last year.

You’d think these bleak facts would guarantee certain extinction, but scientists at Avantea have now successfully fertilized 7 eggs taken from the two female rhinos with frozen sperm from deceased males of their species.

If the eggs develop successfully, the next step will be to implant one into a female southern white rhino to carry the pregnancy. This is the first time a procedure like this has been successful, and it opens up a huge number of possibilities not just for northern white rhinos, but for critically endangered species everywhere. 

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this EcoWatch story:

Seven eggs from the world's last northern white rhinoceroces have been successfully fertilized in a lab, scientists announced on Monday.

Ten eggs were extracted from two females, Najin and Fatu, last week in Kenya, but only seven of them were fit to be artificially inseminated.

"We expect some of them will develop into an embryo," Cesare Galli, a founder of the Italian assisted-breeding company Avantea.

The team used frozen sperm that had been harvested from two male northern white rhinos before they died.

"This is the next critical step in hopefully creating viable embryos that can be frozen and then later on transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers," the scientists said in a statement.

Veterinarians and wildlife experts are hoping to use a surrogate mother rhino, as Najin and Fatu are unable to carry a pregnancy.

This is Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, just before he died on March 19, 2018. From Time Magazine.

And here are Najin and Fatu. This photo was taken last Friday (August 23, 2019).

Female northern white rhinos Fatu, 19, right, and Najin, 30, left, the last two northern white rhinos on the planet, are fed some carrots by a ranger in their enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Wildlife experts and vets say there is hope for the northern white rhino which is on the verge of extinction, after they successfully managed to draw eggs Thursday from the last two of the species, hoping they can be used to reproduce the species through a surrogate. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

[kaiju-z]

Seon Adventures Episode 17: Home Intrusions

Last we left off the Cultbusters, the adventurers had been ambushed in their sleep by a Elf Mage and his Death Dog, who put them in a tricky situation. With Amelia down and in need of healing, stat, where do we go from here?! (I mean, you see the image, so that’s not much of a secret...)

On Belli’s turn, she attempts to cast Polymorph on the elven man. With much gusto, he shrugs that off with a counterspell, which in turn leaves Belli with few options to proceed. She chooses to cast a healing word on Amelia, raising the Air Genasi Monk back to her feet at 4 HP and begs her to back away from the magic user.

While  Amelia feels like she just woke up from her best sleep ever, Ficus charges in. Using his daggers, he swings, one after the other, he attacks the target of his choice and, though the first blow connects with the man’s collar bone, that causes him to flinch back and avoid any further damage.

Disengaging, he backs away from the wounded elf....

Intimidated as all hell by Luctan,  the dog lays down and plays dead, submitting.

(And OOC we have a discussion if this makes the dog Luctan’s pet now. And somehow, we end up having to bring up the point that the BABY is not a pet!)

Mournimar’s turn comes and he climbs atop the 5ft rock before him with a run and jump. Up there, he aims and fires with the Savon Bow upon the elf. The arrow strikes true and pierces through the man’s stomach. He stumbles, very nearly gone.

The second arrow fires and pings off a rock, missing. Thinking quickly, Mournimar ducks for cover behind the rock’s safety shape.

Burk’s turn comes.

With his good perception, he finds where the man was standing at, thanks to the noise and visuals of Ficus and Mournimar’s actions. He charges around the corner and swings a finishing move on the man with his Minotaur Axe.

Upon a well aimed strike, Burk explodes the man’s head with impact. Blood and brains and flesh and bone fly everywhere, while  the Death dog whimpers and disappears.

The fight over and done with, Amelia gets showered with love and affection and heals from everyone, before Luctan and Burk loot the body.

Burk finds 200 gold. And he finds a piece of paper with “weird scribbles.” There’s a strange dagger at the man’s hip with an intricate pattern. Also silver bands, like Ficus’. Thusly, Burk asks if Ficus knows the man.

Ficus shakes his head, not able to  recognize him. Especially now with his head a splattered. It’s an independent art form, what they do, so nah.

Luctan takes the dagger and paper, but has difficulty finding the Focus the wizard had been using during the battle.

Belli has much more luck than, well, Luck, with that as she finds his component pouch. Taking his cloak as well, she feels bougie as hell. Which only adds to the matter as she finds 40platinum bulging from the wizard’s socks.  Belli shares the platinum with the party. Each getting 8 platinum for their woes.

Identifying the focus… It’s a small crystal, small glass cone. Seemingly what he had been using for his area of effect spells. But that’s not all.  A slight magical aura comes from the cloak and dagger. Identifying the latter item, she learns it’s identity as The Colak of Elvenkind. An enchanted cloak, which makes it’s user harder to spot on the field of battle (i.e. advantage on Stealth checks).

(After some Fantasy Costco jokes are made...) the party decide on who gets the cloak. Given the noise his armor makes, when moving, they ultimately agree to hand it over to Luctan.

As for the former item... Belli learns that it’s a Blink Dagger. Once per day it can be thrown in any direction and called back to the attuned person without having to waste any actions, beyond thinking it so.

And after some further consideration, Luctan is the one to get the item as well! The boy does love him his sharpy weapons. And it fits the aesthetic with a purple color to the blade itself.

That out of the way, they wonder what to do with the body. As they do so, Ficus checks the body, a bit more deeply as he does an incission on the man’s chest, pulling out a bloodspattered rock with an emblem from inside him.

As Luctan casts his first Prestidigitation to clean that off, Ficus reveals that the rock is an anti-scrying rock. Anyone attuned to it cannot be snooped upon by watchful eyes.

After changing hands a couple of times, Burk gets the rock, receiving it from Luctan, who had received it from Ficus..

Everyone eventually goes back to sleep, deciding to give the would-be assassin an air burial and, in the morning everyone has breakfast 

Upon Luctan’s request, Belli sends a message to Nash to check with her how things were going with Dak, the Changeling Cleric..

“What’s up, what’s going on, how you doing?”

Nash is confused. 

With her acting abilities, Belli copies Nash and gives Luctan an explanation on what Nash said. Thusly, Luck facepalms.

(OOC, there was a bit where Belli by accident said the word phone and the tiefs go  “What’s a phone?!”)

Luck gives instructions to help Belli with the message. “Hello, Nash. This is Belli, asking for Luctan. How’s Dak, what’s he doing?”

Nash wakes up, like “Oh my god, it was real.

“Everything seems fine and normal. Everything’s out of the ordinary, besides the market being wild.”  is her message back to Belli, who refers it to Luctan. Given the Nexus Volcano and demon attack, it made sense that the market would be off kilter now. Hopefully the druids and rangers of The Forestheart Bretheren helped the situation.

Luctan notices that Mournimar isn’t doing well. Most of everyone does as well. Given the way he had bent over and in pain, as well as  Mournimar’s armor being semi-scorched off, it was clear that his abdomen was hit bad by the bastard from the other night.

Belli for that matter also seemed to have received some bad burns from the Fireball the previous night as well.  Luctan is startled by the burns of Belli and Mournimar and just casts Healing word, like a doof.

Now that the party had time to actually talk and think about it, they were curious about Luctan’s sudden burst of magicks and glowy demeanor whenever he’d cast.

Belli: “I mean, would anyone be surprised if Luctan’s a litteral angel?!”

“But I’m a tiefling.” Luctan would respond.

Mournimar and Ficus insight check Luctan on whether he made a deal with a deity or something. But given their low rolls, they honestly have no idea. Joining on the insight checks,  Amelia is pretty sure he’s not lying when he says he’s made no deal at all.

This somehow sparks further conversations about Ficus’ attraction to Luctan and how apparently the Narah family wanna bang lots of despicable people?! There are many sibling shenanigans to be had between the two, with Belli ultimately making Ficus and Mournimar have to defend themselves as she states “Don’t trust the rogues!”

Upon Luctan casting Prestidigitation on the cloak again, to give it a purple and blue look, Amelia tries to speak to him in Primordial, but alas, he doesnt’understand a word she says.

Well fed, well in spirits, the party get back in their carriage and continue on their journey to Crystalgate and beyond~!

On the final leg of this path, they reach the rich subburbs outside the city itself. Where all the famous celebrities of the country reside. Belli notices Fantasy Freddy Mercury’s place. The party see some unbranded guard patrols going around. Checking them out for a moment, before they just continue on their way. Luckily, Luctan cleaned up everyone, retroactively.

It takes about 15 minutes to half an hour before they reach the gates.

It’s pretty instant she recognizes the large gates with N, split open when the gate does. A small forest blocks the view of the house and they can see the roof of the building and for everyone, but Luctan, this is the biggest place they’ve ever seen. About the same size as the city hall in Avantea.

For Belli, the warm nostalgia of home is almost as warming as the knowledge of what’s inside is chilling. Belli is quietly running her hands on the N.

“ What kind of rich assholes live here?” – Burk. 

“We did.” – Belli.

Ficus pricks himself on a small spike of metal and the gates swing open. (To keep out the other side of the family). Special magicks.

This is the home of people, who know their children come home less clean, hence,when the party enter, they are immediatelly cleaned from any dirt that Luctan would have missed along the way, thanks to the Prestidigitation gate.

The forest was an illusion. The mansion is before them. Exageration, but it’s big as hell!

Six fountains on each side. Each small fountain presents an Half-Orc child of varying ages and personalities. Two, identical, are the twins. The child on the right, closest to the house has been vandalized.

- That’s Ficus’.

Belli puts a hand on his forearm. The twins were PISSED! The face is scraped off, the arms are chipped.

After Burk makes a little jab at Ficus, the rogue answers back: “ You may be wide, but you’re still small and I will smother you in your sleep.” Bold words, given that Burk has the strength to use him as a javelin.

While the Narahs talk, Luctan passes Amelia the medalion of Keemis, which she promptly puts it on like a baller.

As they advance ahead, they focus on the last fountain. The biggest fountain in the middle is of Mr. and Mrs. Narah, with baby Belli in the middle.

This all used to seem so big. I never thought I’d see this place be so quiet.”   Belli looks at the fountain of her parents and herself. Her dad, the Orc, her mom, the elf.

With the siblings’ encouragement, Belli moves onward and the party follow her to the double door. The door is unlocked, as she had left it.

In the first little entryway, they see the hooks for cloaks and hats. They see some family items, dusty as hell. Belli runs her hand through them, nostalgia overflowing her heart like a fine wine cup.

  A large set of tables stand long and empty at the front of the party as this is a big ass dining room. Dusty and all that, they yearn to be sat upon once more and warmed with the company of a loving family.

Belli is quiet as she walks around, quieter than she has ever been seen.

As she observes her home, years after she herself had abandoned it, Mournimar joins Amelia in ivestigating for anything that would seem “off”. What they notice is the ash of the fireplace. It’s ash, yeah, nothing magical about it, but the problem was that it was fairly recent. In the last few, at that.

The spot in the room they are in, hasn’t been touched in a while, but the ash is recent.

As she goes to explore another room,  Belli begs Burk not to break anything.

Burk, silent at this request, goes for an entryway on the right. There’s a door in his general direction and he goes for it, Rimefang at his shoulder. Opening the door, the two conclude on three things.

1. The room is a Water Closet.

2. It stinks.

And 3. They have just failed a con save, because for about 6 seconds, they feel themselves poisoned.

Belli enters the kitchen. The chef used to love working here.

(There are lots of  OWO and UWU jokes OOC)

Remembering, Belli notices how the fruit is nasty as hell, but there are some crackers and rations, beanfeasts. Much to be concerned, there seems to be way less of it than since she left. “Weird.”

As everyone picks a place to investigate, Burk checks what he finds to be the music room, full of varying instruments, fitting for a family of Bards to hold onto. There are many kazoos involved. Looking around, Burk’s nose catches that horrible smell again, this time coming from the piano next to him. The stench comes from the keys, but evidently there is nothing that could have made that possible.

He plays the piano and it’s horrible.

Amelia joins Belli and Ficus, reassuring the siblings as they draw closer to the domain of the Narrah Patriarch and Matriarch.

Belli’s hands are shaking asshe tries to open the door, but not really getting there. With Ficus’ help, they get in what looks to be an arts and crafts room.

And she notices it, smells so bad of rot. Paints and dyes, having expired over the years. This is where they were encouraged to pick up hobbies and explore who they wanted to be.

Painting, sculpting or that one time someone wanted to pick up kickboxing, there’s even a dummy inside.

The family study is beyond this and so is the bedroom, which was usually off-limits, for obvious reasons.

“Ficus, are you sure you wanna go on? I’m scared.”

“I mean, I abandoned these people long enough, really.”

They encourage each other to go in.

And do so.

Belli steadily makes her way towards the family bedroom, followed by Ficus.

She walks past the study, where her parents read and stuff. Scattered across the table in an unorganized manner is paperwork of contracts, receipts for gigs they were to play.

It makes sense to them, probably, but to everyone else? Nah. They totally had a system they worked off of.

Many a memories of the family, all of them together, come back to them as they open that final door...

She’s not sure if it makes her happier or less happy that they are still where she left them. It’s almost like their gaze is still on them. Belli is visibly shaken. She takes a step towards her family, her legs give out and she drops to her knees, beginning to sob.

- Ficus is hiding his face behind his fringe and sits himself on the bed, grabs the hand of their mom and he cries as well.

Amelia joins in. Them weeping is her siren call to come in.

Amelia comforts Belli as best she can, damn it! They are so in this moment that... the moment they hear shuffling from the study, they almost don’t hear it. But they do!

When she goes in, she notices a trail of paperwork falling off, like someone brushed it off the desk and Belli must make a Con save. She’s too emotionally distraught to be phased by the smell that follows.

  “Who’s here?!” – Belli shouts and demands, which prompts the other half of the party to join her in the study. All but Ficus, who remains seated in the bedroom.

Luctan, Burk and Mournimar run inside and they hear increased breathing of something big in the room. Flickering, out of invisibility, is a huge, hulking horned beast with spikes along his back and hulking mouth.

Mournimar makes a con save and is poisoned temporarily.

Mournimar screams in infernal, demanding to know what that thing is. Belli does the same in orcish. The thing speaks in abyssal. Belli hears guttural groaning, it sounds like vomiting and snarling at the same time.

The fight begins with Burk charging in, swinging his axe at the beast, hitting it several times, causing gashes on the hell beast’s body. But alas.  The stench really fucks with everything, giving those, who have entered the room in the monster’s viscinity disadvantage.

The thing is not able to be hit so easily, with the stink getting in the way. Frustrated, Amelia strikes with her gloves and hits the fucker. AND!  Using her Open Hand Technique, Amelia knocks the creature prone.

Belli is beyond furious and screams with all the anger and fear and grief she has in her.

Without even thinking, she casts Shatter again.

The irony is that the only thing to make the save, other than Amelia is the thing. Burk, Mournimar and Belli take 11 damage. Amelia and the creature take 5.

Belli copies the creature’s voice, some weird dialect and Mournimar basically hears that it claimed this place as it’s territory. Belli is enraged. She will have none of that!    Luctan recognizes that people have fought these before, he had seen them. This demonic toad like monster was a fiend in nature.

Tanking with the con save, he doesn’t get poisoned. But the smell is still pretty bad, so, as he comes in, he casts Prestiditation, before pointing at the creature.

“You may be a hell beast, but we? We are the Cultbusters!” and he accidentally casts Bless on  Burk, Mournimar and Amelia.

Action surge follows, Luctan tris to use a Hellish Rebuke on the large red creature, but in it’s stead something else comes to his mind. Sacred Flame, but the creature ends up succeeding on it’s save!

Luctan pulls out West Wounder and East Ender as he gets on the table, before the being, known as a Hezrou, releases a monstrous roar, which summons six lesser creatures from firey portals that open on the ground.

Based on an educated guess, the tieflings recognize the monsters as Dretches.

Inferior demons, Luctan  had encountered some, but not for long since they’re fairly weak. The creature roars again.

Mournimar pulls his shortsword out and goes for the attack on the dretch to his front And then repeats the attack with the sword. Hitting with the help of the bless. At the end of his turn, he casts Hunter’s Mark on the Hezrou.

Burk attacks and thanks to Luctan’s energy thing, he strikes true. With Fury of the Small, he hits even harder then and then another powerful hit adds up to further damage the large monster.

With his bonus action, he donkey punches the Dretch behind him. Burk cloks the dretch in the back of the head and it falls over.

Amelia strikes with a mighty gloved punch, finding the good shit, decking the thing in it’s wounds.

( “Ames is real good at fisting gashes.” – Cat, OOC)

As a bonus action, she uses her quarterstaff to smack the dretch closest to Belli, focusing it’s ire on herself as she harms it nice and good.

The strikes continue and she hits hard enough to make one of it’s eyes explode, blood and gore flying everywhere by the end as she finishes it off with a roundhouse kick, decapitating it. The battle gets chaotic as hell.

While Mournimar sets a creature on fire as a response to the two deretches at his side slashing at him, Belli points a finger at the Hezrou and chants “ You’re nothing but slime that I’ll crush beneath my heel. “

And promptly turns the Hezrou into a slug.

Intimidated by the Bard’s magic and her words that follow, one of the dretches teleports away through a gate, terrified as all hell by the half-orc.

As the others tear to shreds the remaining dretches, they are left with but one real target to worry about. The now transformed Hezrou.

After some deliberations on how to proceed, Burk picks up the slug. Most of the party decide to finish it off, while Belli goes to check on her brother’s mental state.

So, lead by Burk,the rest of the Cultbusters go outside.

Burk elaborates that he wanted to finish things here, outside, because he wanted to hold onto the promise he had made to Belli when they had first seperated in the mansion.

Everyone gets into position as Burk sets the slugged Hezrou in between the four of them.

On the count of three, they attack.

1.

2..

3!!!

Burk swings the axe, Amelia strikes with her fists, Mournimar fires the bow from a distance and Luctan attempts that Sacred Flame again (I seriously need to raise the boy’s Charisma for that DC check > A <;;;)

All their attacks combine to a whole 30 damage on the creature, which immediatelly changes back. It looks hurt. And pissed the fuck off.

Regardless, Burk just strikes with blow after blow upon the thing, hitting it with his axes. It’s almost like chopping wood, really. Going around it and hitting certain areas, spilling blood. The thing wobbles on it’s last legs.

Then comes the monk’s turn.

Amelia stares at him, the guy who dared try and take her friend’s home.  Basically, fuck this dick. She strikes him once, then again. And again and again and again! Blow after blow, Amelia is merciless in her assault on the fiend.

The Power Of Kyle compels her (CHUG THAT MOUNTAIN DEW)

Amelia finishes the thing off with a powerful bash. Almost in slow motion, she jumps and elbows the Hezrou in the snoot. On the drop back down she knees him in the jaw. It bites it’s own tongue out, which flies off.

Dead and falling to the ground, it turns to goup whch spills on the four of them. Not a problem as Luctan casts Prestidigitation almost as quick as theyget splashed, like on some Nikleodeon game show.

.

As the party was finishing business, Belli had been checking on Ficus.

Ficus is glazed over. He looks dead to the world.

Belli walks over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. “Ficus, can you hear me?” There’s a very slight nod. “There was a fight in the other room. Looks like some demons were living here for a while.”

“You know, when I thought we were gonna go back to face our demons here, I didn’t think it would be literally." There’s a slight pause. “I have no clue why I came back here.”

“You came here, you wanted to come home.”

“Is this home?”

“Home was where the twins would set a giant scavenger hunt for us, where mum would readto us and tell us the most amazing stories. We were happy, there was music and laughter and family and I-I could’ve probably stayed here as a kid. I didn’t have to leave. We had food, I-I could’ve gone for help, but I just left and I ran away like you did, because I didn’t think I could make a difference. And I still don’t think I can.”

Can she?

Belli looks at the petrified rock that was once her family... And something clicks in her head. A thought. An arcane thought at that.

In all this mess, adrenaline and all, her brain going faster than it has in a long time. She knows that there are divine magicks that can restore people, despite all kinds of awful circumstances. It’s a very high level she’s after, but maybe she could fix this, or get someone to fix it.

Higher level than someone like Nash. But with the right friends, she could maybe get them back.

“ You know, Ficus. I don’t think it’s over for us yet.”  she smiles.

“Ugh, I gotta go through more shit?!”

I think we could bring them back if we have the right help. I don’t know who or where to even start, but it’s got to be better, than living your life, thinking you failed the people, who mattered to you must.”

The mom statue is semi broken… Belli understands this. They might not be a full family again, but it’ll be better than the current situation.  Belli will definitely find out who did this and she will kill them.  Ficus will want to join this vengeance quest.

She takes out the gemstone and puts it in her mother’s broken hand. “We’re not done here. We’re not done, Ficus.”

The light will shine upon them.

"I’m totally gonna steal some of their shit, though.” Ficus says, brightened up some.

Belli begs Ficus to hide some things in his room, in case Luck wanders in there. Much to Ficus’ horror, he realizes that his room was kept exactly the same.Which brings the man to make a dash for his chambers.

As the others finish things off, Belli goes to her old room. It feels so weird to her how small the room is now.

With the Hezrou dead and gone, Archie rides on Morgan’s back, while Luctan brings in the horses and carriage.

Before they can finish the ride to Crystalgate, the party decide to take a breather inside the mansion for a bit, get their heart rates down to normal again.

Up in the hallway, the walls are lined up with the family in all their ages. Starts with cheap caricatures of Mr. and Mrs. Narrah. Going full circle we get realistic artistic stuff with the whole family.

There’s an obvious missing picture of Ficus.  As Belli explains, she shows them the bar on the upper floor as well, in case they’re up for some drinks.

While the others chill outside, Belli brings the tieflings to Ficus’ room. Ficus, who is in the middle of trying to hide all his shit. He was tearing the posters off and apart. Too bad he didn’t consider his sister’s skills and moxxy as Belli casts Minor Illusion and recreates the posters.

The posters show the openness of Ficus’ sexuality and his exploration.

Mourni just drops to the ground, looking under the bed, while the Narrahs have a Mage Hand rivalry over him.

They accidentally break a box of thigs;;; Ficus’ belongings, lots of kinky things of Ficus’ stash.

Let’s just say Ficus has a healthy interest in anathomy.  But the siblings definitely agree that their brother Keem had the most porn of the kids. The first singer of the family.

Rather than laugh at Ficus, Luctan just chuckles, amused at Ficus’ opennes. He appreciates this and finds him sweet.

Then Belli drops the bombshell.

They have hottubs further down the floor.

Luctan is required to wear a bathing suit for the hot tub, though.

“I am a free spirit!” proclaims Luctan, protesting as he holds the elf baby under arm, having pickedh im back up from the arts and crafts room he had left the youngster in, before joining the fight.

- Pretty soon enough, everyone joins inside the hottub in the far right part of the floor. As Burk teaches Rimefang how to doggy paddle, Mournimar starts a bit of a splashing war with Luctan, who eventually gives in.

Amelia just relaxes with Archie, while Belli tries to bribe Luctan with money to shave his beard off.

It almot works, as Luctan’s  greedy streak shows itself, but the deal falls through

It doesn’t take long for Mournimar and Belli to start trying to outperform each other with cannonball dives in the large tub, while Luctan goes to a more secluded part of the floor, in the opposite tub, across the corridor, where he is joined by Ficus.

All is well.

Even the baby gets to relax, floating on a ring.

Once they take their good break, the party get dressed and leave the mansion, closing the door after themselves shut. And they move on the path to Crystalgate.

They are a day out from Crystalgate.

Given the area around Crystalgate is planes, pretty much as they step out of the estate the mansion was on, the shape of the huge city… for all of them this is the hugest settlement they’ve seen.

Belli had been here before as a child, naturally, but still it was freaking enormous.

The walls are a good 60ft high, even above that they can see three huge towering spires. Twisted in shape. Double helix, almost, but not quite spiral-y. Three spirals in parallel. Further to the north, left of the spirals are lots of tops of taller buildings, huge clusters of buildings, taking huge portions of the city.

Luctan climbs the top of the carriage and just stares ahead into the city. Somewhere in there, the Gentlemen hold his limbs.

Mournimar joins him up there and gives him an empassioned encouraging speech.

“Bro, that’s gay."- Ficus.

“Yeah, no shit.” - Mournimar.

Luctan stares ahead. “I’m coming for you.”

The Wheel Of Time Keeps Spinning. Let’s Rock.

We travel through the night. Mournimar, half-asleep, taps Luctan’s shoulder and points out constellations. Finally, some fucking peace.

Going deep into inner roads of the outer city, the party ultimately decide to take a rest inside the Crusty Challice inn for the night. A shady inn, where no questions need be asked.

As they get closer within Crystalgate, Amelia makes a Wisdom save ( 23 – 6), much like she had done in the morning, after they took off from the ambush spot.

For a brief second Amelia feels lightheaded, but she shakes it off immediately.

Room arrangements are made. Burk takes a room for himself and Rimefang, Belli, Orion, Mournimar and Morgan get one together, Ficus takes a room seperately and Luctan and Amelia are to hang out. Purple teeeam~!

And as the lot of them go to bed, the episode comes to an end.

Previous Episode / Next episode

[silvencreativestudios]

🦏✨👉🏼Repost from @amivitale • Video by @amivitale. Zacharia Mutui (@zacharia443) is one of the dedicated keepers by the side of Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos. In this clip, he explains that he and Najin trust one another implicitly. The bonds are deep and the keepers have a profound understanding of just how precious these last northern white rhinos are. They have become some of the northern white rhinos' closest friends and greatest advocates. Hopefully, someday soon, they will be able to welcome and care for new northern white rhino babies. Over the last two years, the @BioRescue_project has created NINE northern white rhino embryos - each one of them has the potential to become a northern white rhino in the near future. Hope grows stronger every day. Learn more, including how you can donate, by following and supporting @BioRescue_project and @olpejeta, @SafariParkDvurKralove @leibnizizw @KenyaWildlifeService #Avantea @tunajibu @bmbf.bund @leibnizgemeinschaft @MinistryOfTourismAndWildlifeKE @jemu_mwenda @wachira.joseph @natgeo @thephotosociety @nikonusa #amivitale #kenya #NorthernWhiteRhinos #nikonambassador #dontletthemdisappear #nikonnofilter #nikonlove #rhinos #saverhinos #sudanforever #empathyiseverything https://www.instagram.com/p/CP5qfrYFcX7/?utm_medium=tumblr

[giaitritonghop123]

Tạo phôi thai từ đôi tê giác trắng phương bắc cuối cùng

KenyaPhôi thai từ trứng của hai con tê giác trắng phương bắc cái cuối cùng trên thế giới sắp được cấy vào cá thể mang thai hộ bằng thụ tinh trong ống nghiệm.

Tê giác trắng Najin và Fatu. Ảnh: Save the rhino.

Sudan, con tê giác trắng phương bắc đực duy nhất còn sót lại chết vào tháng 3/2018. Mẹ nó Najin và con gái Fatu trở thành hai cá thể cuối cùng của loài này. Các chuyên gia bảo tồn lên kế hoạch cứu tê giác trắng phương bắc khỏi tuyệt chủng bằng cách thu thập trứng từ hai con tê giác cái, thụ tinh nhân tạo bằng tinh trùng đông lạnh từ những con đực đã chết để tạo ra phôi thai mới.

Chương trình thu được thành công bước đầu vào tháng 8/2019 với hai phôi thai tê giác trắng phương bắc và phôi thai thứ ba được tạo ra vào tháng 12 cùng năm. Gần đây, nhóm chuyên gia quốc tế đến từ Viện Nghiên cứu Động vật hoang dã Leibniz (Leibniz-IZW), công viên safari Dvůr Králové, Cơ quan Động vật hoang dã Kenya, và khu bảo tồn Ol Pejeta, nơi Najin và Fatu đang sinh sống, thông báo họ đã tạo thêm hai phôi thai nữa, nâng tổng số phôi thai tê giác trắng phương bắc thuần chủng lên con số 5. Điều này có nghĩa bước tiếp theo là tìm kiếm tê giác trắng phương nam phù hợp để mang thai hộ và sinh con.

Đây là một bước tiến lớn trong kế hoạch cứu tê giác khỏi bờ vực diệt vong. Tê giác trắng phương bắc là phân loài của tê giác trắng (phân loài còn lại là tê giác trắng phương nam), từng phân bố khắp các nước Đông Phi và Trung Phi. Nhiều năm bị săn trộm và ảnh hưởng của nội chiến tại nhiều nước khiến quần thể tê giác giảm mạnh. Hiện nay, chúng được xem như tuyệt chủng về mặt chức năng. Najin và Fatu thuộc sở hữu của công viên safari Dvůr Králové ở Cộng hòa Czech nhưng được chăm sóc và canh gác cẩn thận tại khu bảo tồn Ol Pejeta ở Kenya.

3 phôi thai đầu tiên là kết quả từ quá trình thu thập tế bào trứng chưa trưởng thành từ Najin và Fatu vào năm 2019, và thụ tinh nhân tạo bằng tinh trùng đông lạnh từ hai con tê giác đực cuối cùng là Suni (chết năm 2014) và Sudan. Kế hoạch thu thập thêm tế bào trứng bị trì hoãn vào năm ngoái do đại dịch. Tuy nhiên, vào giữa tháng 12/2020, các nhà nghiên cứu tiến hành lấy thêm tế bào trứng. Mẫu vật lập tức được vận chuyển từ Kenya tới Phòng thí nghiệm Avantea ở Italy, thụ tinh bằng tinh trùng của Suni, sau đó bảo quản đông lạnh. Giờ đây, 5 phôi thai đang được lưu trữ bằng nitơ lỏng và sẵn sàng để thụ tinh qua ống nghiệm. Tiếp theo, nhóm nghiên cứu sẽ chuẩn bị để cấy phôi thai vào tê giác trắng phương nam cái.

Một con tê giác trắng phương nam đực tên Ouwan chuyển từ khu bảo tồn động vật hoang dã Lewa ở miền bắc Kenya tới khu bảo tồn Ol Pejeta Conservancy vào tháng 11/2020. Ouwan là vật chỉ dẫn đáng tin cậy về chu kỳ sinh sản của những con tê giác trắng phương nam cái ở Ol Pejeta. Nó đã được triệt sản để đảm bảo bầy tê giác cái không mang thai với nó. Sau khi xác nhận kết quả triệt sản vào tháng 3 năm nay, các nhân viên ở khu bảo tồn sẽ theo dõi Ouwan để xem có bất kỳ con tê giác cái nào sẵn sàng thụ tinh nhân tạo hay không.

An Khang (Theo IFL Science)

from Tin mới nhất - VnExpress RSS https://ift.tt/3bH25xr via IFTTT

[lamilanomagazine]

Cremona, Via libera al Pianto attuativo per l’ampliamento di Avantea

[amivitale]

Photo by @amivitale. @olpejeta head rhino keeper @zacharia_mutai relaxes with Najin, one of the last two northern white rhinos on the planet. Zacharia, with Najin's other keepers, has had a front row seat as the @biorescue_project works to restore this iconic species. On this Earth Day, I'm shining a spotlight on the incredible people who work hard to protect wildlife. The plight of wildlife has received much needed attention, but very little has been said about the communities on the front lines. We often forget that the best protectors are often local communities. Their efforts are ultimately the best immunization against forces that threaten both their wildlife and way of life. @biorescue_project @leibnizizw #Avantea, @KenyaWildlifeService @SafariParkDvurKralove @tunajibu @bmbf.bund @leibnizgemeinschaft @MinistryOfTourismAndWildlifeKE @natgeo @thephotosociety @nikonusa @photography.for.good #amivitale #kenya #NorthernWhiteRhinos #nikonambassador #dontletthemdisappear #nikonnofilter #nikonlove #rhinos #saverhinos https://www.instagram.com/p/CcqfV2DuXyA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[chloerd]

Eco-Visionaries, Royal Academy

David told me about the exhibition Eco-Visionaries at the Royal Academy, from climate change to species extinction to resource depletion, this exhibit examines the damaging effects that humans have on the environment and the planet. Ranging from work to film, photography, installation, and architectural models. The life of planet Earth and its now endangered ecosystem falls on us, artists involved in this exhibition have attempted to shed light on these devastating issues. Artists including Olafur Eliasson, Ant Farm, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Andrés Jaque, Tue Greenfort, Unknown Fields, Rimini Protokoll, Virgil Abloh and WORKac, and others.

win > < win, (2017), Rimini Protokoll

Rimini Protokoll collaborated with marine biologists and animals’ keepers to create the installation win > < win. Helgard Haug, Stefan Kaegi, and Daniel Wetzel wrote of how almost everything that damages our ecosystem, benefits jellyfish in this article https://www.rimini-protokoll.de/website/en/project/win-win

“Overfishing brings down the number of predatory fish that could reduce the number of jellyfish. Plastic bags in the oceans kill other predators like turtles. On top of that, jellyfish flourish in warm water; it extends their breeding season, while many fish suffer from the lower oxygen percentage. ‘Warm water is a disaster for anything that breathes, and a dream come true for anything that doesn’t breathe much, like jellyfish’” says Lisa-Ann Gershwin, an Australian marine biologist and jellyfish expert. This article continues to speak of how invasion of jellyfish threatened to wipe out the population of fish in South Australia. This was astounding to read, and I almost couldn’t believe how well adapted they would be, we are destroying the planet and jellyfish will be the only survivors after it has all fallen apart. 

This installation by Protokoll is an interesting way to flip the view back onto us, perhaps something for us to take away from this is all the different ways in which we are destroying Planet Earth.

The Substitute, (2019), Video, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg

March 20th, 2018. The date that the headlines announced the death of the last male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan. Ginsberg’s video installation explores a paradox, “our preoccupation with creating new life forms, while neglecting existing ones”. https://www.daisyginsberg.com/work/the-substitute  

In this video installation by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, a northern white rhinoceros is digitally brought back to life. The video starts off with three white walls, the screen seems to be the fourth wall making the room, transparent so we can view the animal, like in a zoo. Around 10 seconds into the video, a pixelated rhino begins to appear, you can hear it breathing and shuffling. The rhino moves around the room, as if adjusting to its new virtual habitat, it moves from pixilation to lifelike. Although this is completely artificial, the rhino looks and sounds real, “the behaviours and sounds are adapted from rare research footage of the last herd, provided by Dr Richard Policht”. To this date there is said to be only 2 northern white rhinoceros’ alive, both of which are female. 11th September 2019, the date where scientists from the Avantea laboratory in Italy announced that they had successfully created 2 Northern white rhino embryos.

https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino-species/white-rhino/scientists-have-successfully-created-northern-white-rhino-embryos/

This installation is powerful, it is a reminder that we will hunt a species until they’re extinct, attempt to save them artificially, breed, capture, torment animals, and still believe we are doing good. 

Domestic catastrophe N°3: La Planète Laboratoire, (2012), HeHe

HeHe collaborated with Dr. Jean-Marc Chomaz, Ladhyx, École Polytechnique to create this installation of an “aquarium containing a domestic globe, a motor to turn the globe and electronic valve or drip feed which releases a fluoresceine tracing dye onto the sphere. As the sphere turns, the green dye wraps itself around the sphere, enveloping it in what appears to be a thin gas or atmosphere that surrounds the planet Earth.” http://hehe.org.free.fr/hehe/planet/index.html

This piece has a strong message behind it, forcing the viewer to stop and think about what we are doing to the Earth, if all the intoxication, climate change, pollution, emissions, etc. was visible, this is how the world would look. As the globe spins continuously on its axis, the green mist covers it, HeHe is showing us the devastating effects we are causing to planet Earth. “Domestic catastrophe Nº3: La Planète Laboratoire is both peaceful and disturbing in its evocation of a fluid smothering”.  https://cargocollective.com/curatingthecosmos/HeHe-Domestic-Catastrophe-N-3-La-Planete-Laboratoire

Plastoceptor and Stomaximus, (2014), Pinar Yoldas

Turkish artist, Pinar Yoldas created the installation Plastoceptor and Stomaximus in response to her intrusive daydreams, she dreams of the Pacific Trash Vortex. Imagining the organic forms evolved to eat plastic that might grow from the plastic particulate that floats in the Pacific Ocean. “If life started today in our plastic debris filled oceans, what kinds of life forms would emerge out of this contemporary primordial ooze??”

 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wa-SDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=If+life+started+today+in+our+plastic+debris+filled+oceans,+what+kinds+of+life+forms+would+emerge+out+of+this+contemporary+primordial+ooze?&source=bl&ots=sD-jNs4D8I&sig=ACfU3U0D6Oy6tFkXtBcr6L5twJkhEOS0hA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiwkYPTtr3pAhXIEcAKHQxvCqEQ6AEwAXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=If%20life%20started%20today%20in%20our%20plastic%20debris%20filled%20oceans%2C%20what%20kinds%20of%20life%20forms%20would%20emerge%20out%20of%20this%20contemporary%20primordial%20ooze%3F&f=false

[luizacarvalhocardoso]

Embriões de laboratório podem salvar rinoceronte branco do Norte da extinção

Uma equipe de cientistas e conservacionistas abriu novos caminhos para salvar o rinoceronte branco do Norte da extinção. Com o apoio da Merck, empresa de ciência e tecnologia, a equipe coletou óvulos de duas fêmeas da éspécie, Najin e Fatu, na reserva Ol Pejeta Conservancy, localizada no Quênia.

A primeira coleta aconteceu em agosto de 2019 e a segunda em dezembro. Os animais foram submetidos à anestesia geral e os óvulos (chamados de oócitos) foram colhidos usando uma sonda guiada por ultrassom. A anestesia e a retirada dos óvulos ocorreram sem complicações e os oócitos foram transportados imediatamente para o Laboratório Avantea na Itália.

Após um período de imcubacão os óvulos restirados durante as duas coletas foram fertilizados usando um procedimento chamado ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmatic Sperm Injection), onde um único espermatozóide é injetado dentro de um óvulo.

Três óvulos fertilizados se tornaram embriões viáveis com a ajuda da Geri®, incubadora doada pela Merck com recursos integrados de monitoramento contínuo para o desenvolvimento de embriões. A incubadora foi projetada para fornecer um ambiente de incubação individualizado e sem perturbações.

Próximos passos

Os embriões foram congelado e estão armazenados em nitrogênio líquido. Os próximos passos para salvar o rinoceronte branco do Norte da extinção estão em andamento simultaneamente à criação de embriões.

O plano é selecionar um grupo de rinocerontes brancos do Sul da Ol Pejeta Conservancy, do qual uma fêmea possa servir como receptora para os embriões.

Para alcançar os melhores resultados com os embriões de rinoceronte branco, a equipe conta com a experiência de procedimentos semelhantes de transferência de embriões em rinocerontes brancos do Sul, realizados para enfrentar os desafios de reprodução nos zoológicos europeus.

Apesar de ainda serem necessárias mais pesquisas, a equipe espera que uma primeira tentativa para esta etapa crucial e nunca realizada anteriormente aconteça ainda em 2020.

Em dezembro de 2019, o sêmen do último macho de rinoceronte branco do Norte foi transportado do Quênia para a Alemanha para que sejam produzidos mais embriões. O macho, chamado Sudão, morreu em março de 2018, mas o sêmen foi colhido em 2014 quando ele já tinha mais de 40 anos. Por isso, ainda é necessária uma avaliação do material.

Esforço conjunto

A coleta de oócitos, o desenvolvimento de embriões e preparação para a transferência é um esforço conjunto do Instituto Leibniz de Pesquisa em Zoológico e Vida Selvagem (Leibniz-IZW), Avantea, Zoológico Dvůr Králové, Ol Pejeta Conservancy e Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Todo o processo faz parte da pesquisa “BioRescue”.

O objetivo é avançar significativamente nas técnicas de reprodução assistida. O consórcio é parcialmente financiado pelo Ministério Federal de Educacão e Pesquisa da Alemanha, Itália, Re’publica Tcheca, Quênia, Japão e EUA.

“É um privilégio apoiar a missão de salvar os mamíferos mais ameaçados do mundo com nossa experiência e tecnologias. Estamos empolgados com o desenvolvimento de um embrião viável de rinoceronte do Norte com a ajuda da nossa incubadora”, explica Jan Kirsten, diretor de franquia de negócios globais para fertilidade da Merck.

Leia também: Último esforço: embriões de rinoceronte branco são criados em laboratório.

The post Embriões de laboratório podem salvar rinoceronte branco do Norte da extinção appeared first on CicloVivo.

Embriões de laboratório podem salvar rinoceronte branco do Norte da extinção Publicado primeiro em http://ciclovivo.com.br/

[batandrogynouscollectionglitter]

تعرف على تفاصيل أول أجنة لوحيد القرن الأبيض من حيوانات منوية مجمدة

نجح القائمون على حفظ الحيوانات في إنشاء جنينين من وحيدي القرن معمليا في الشمال، في خطوة أساسية نحو انقاذ الأنواع من حافة الانقراض، فلا يوجد حاليا إلا اثنين ناجيين فى العالم، وكلاهما من الإناث وغير قادرين على حمل أجنة.

  ووفقا لما ذكرته صحيفة “ديلى ميل” البرطانية، كشف اتحاد علماء BioRescue الدولي عن التفاصيل، أنه تم استخدام بيض تم حصده من الإناث والحيوانات المنوية المجمدة من الذكور المتوفين، وتمكن فريق في كريمونا في إيطاليا من تكوين جنينين قابلين للحياة.

  وتعد أ��ثى وحيدة القرن “نجين” التى تبلغ 30 عاماً، ومعها ابنتها “فاتو” التى تبلغ 19 عامًا، هي الأخيرة من سلالات وحيد القرن الأبيض، وتعيش تحت حراسة لمدة 24 ساعة.

  وقد خضعوا لإجراء شديد الخطورة شهد تخديرهم لمدة ساعتين تقريبًا، واستخرج بيضهم باستخدام تقنيات استغرقت سنوات من البحث والتطوير، حيث إنه في مختبر التكنولوجيا الحيوية الإيطالي Avantea، تم بعد ذلك تخصيب تلك البويضات بالحيوانات المنوية المجمدة.

  كما تم تخزين الأجنة بعد انشاءها الآن في النيتروجين السائل ليتم نقلها إلى الأم البديلة في المستقبل القريب، وكان يعيش وحيد القرن الأبيض الشمالي سابقا في أوغندا وجمهورية إفريقيا الوسطى والسودان وتشاد.

  The post تعرف على تفاصيل أول أجنة لوحيد القرن الأبيض من حيوانات منوية مجمدة appeared first on neroonews.

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[360yosoy]

Fotos de Ami Vitale @amivitale | En una empresa histórica, un consorcio de los principales expertos mundiales de @leibnizizw, Avantea, @safariparkdvurkralove y @kenyawildlifeservice realizaron una recolección de óvulos (un procedimiento para extraer ovocitos) en los últimos rinocerontes blancos del norte vivos, Fatu y Najin, en @olpejeta conservancy en el norte de Kenia. Este procedimiento, nunca antes realizado en ningún rinoceronte blanco del norte, podría marcar ese instante en que estas criaturas fueron traídas de una cierta extinción. En este mismo momento, los óvulos preciosos están siendo trasladados a Italia, donde eventualmente serán madurados y fertilizados con esperma de rinoceronte blanco del norte congelado para convertirse en embriones, que luego podrían transferirse a rinocerontes blancos del sur para gestar los embriones. Si esta nueva tecnología tiene éxito, podría traer a una especie en peligro crítico de extinción. #love #animal #animales #extincion #vamosporellos #vida #amor #respeta #selibre #salvalavida #goanimals #viajeros #mochileros #paz #rinoceronte #rino #whiterino #rinoworld #sabana #amolosanimales #amolosanimales❤️ #amolosanimales❤️🐶 https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kG3yiJPXY/?igshid=11g4e6va6zk3p

[sciencespies]

Scientists a step closer to saving northern white rhino from extinction

https://sciencespies.com/biology/scientists-a-step-closer-to-saving-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction/

Scientists a step closer to saving northern white rhino from extinction

Najin and daughter Fatu are the only surviving northern white rhinos

More

Veterinarians have successfully harvested eggs from the last two surviving northern white rhinos, taking them one step closer to bringing the species back from the brink of extinction, scientists said in Kenya on Friday.

Science is the only hope for the northern white rhino after the death last year of the last male, named Sudan, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya where the groundbreaking procedure was carried out Thursday.

Two females, Najin, 30, and daughter Fatu, 19, are the only survivors of the subspecies of white rhino, and live under 24-hour armed guard at Ol Pejeta.

However neither is able to carry a calf. Fatu has degenerative lesions in her uterus and Najin has weak hind legs which could cause complications if she fell pregnant.

But an international consortium of scientists and conservationists has been working on a project costing several million euros to save the northern white rhino using pioneering artificial reproduction techniques that have taken years of research and development.

Technique developed from scratch

“We were able to harvest a total of 10 oocytes—five from Najin and five from Fatu—showing that both females can still provide eggs and thus help to save these magnificent creatures,” said Professor Thomas Hildebrandt from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (IZW) in Germany who helped carry out the procedure.

“Both the technique and the equipment had to be developed entirely from scratch,” he said.

The northern white rhino is on the brink of extinction

More

The eggs—which cannot be frozen—were immediately flown to a laboratory in Italy to be fertilised with cryogenically frozen sperm, of which there are samples from four deceased males.

The resulting embryos will then be frozen until they can be transferred into a surrogate mother from the southern white rhino subspecies. The first such rhino embryos using in-vitro techniques were created last year.

The team working on the project also includes Italian biotech laboratory Avantea, Czech zoo Dvur Kralove and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

“We are delighted that this partnership gets us one step closer to prevent extinction of the northern white rhinos. This is particularly touching given the heartbreaking death of Sudan, the last male, who died of old age last year in Kenya,” said John Waweru, KWS director general.

Sudan gained worldwide fame in 2017 after he was featured on the popular dating app Tinder in an effort to raise money for the IVF procedure.

Wiped out by poaching

There are five rhino species remaining on earth of which black and white rhinos are found in Africa. The northern white rhino is generally considered a subspecies of white rhino although some scientists believe it to be a sixth species.

Rhinos have few predators in the wild due to their size.

By 2008 the northern white rhino was considered extinct in the wild

More

However, demand for rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine and dagger handles in Yemen fuelled a poaching crisis in the 1970s and 1980s that largely wiped out the northern white rhino population in Uganda, the Central African Republic, Sudan and Chad.

By 2008 the northern white rhino was considered extinct in the wild.

Modern rhinos have plodded the earth for 26 million years. As recently as the mid-19th century there were more than one million in Africa. The western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011.

Obstacles to success

If the IVF is successful, scientists say there may be several births of northern white rhino calves, but the approach has its limits.

Eggs can only be collected from the females three times a year, and a lack of genetic diversity could hamper the survival of the species.

However the consortium of international scientists known as BioRescue is also trying to create artificial sex cells known as gametes via stem cell transformation from the frozen tissue of other, unrelated northern white rhinos, to diversify the gene pool.

According to the team working on the project, the aim is to reintroduce the rhino into secure habitats within the areas they used to roam. This could take up to 70 years.

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Scientists fine-tune method to save rhinos

© 2019 AFP

Citation: Scientists a step closer to saving northern white rhino from extinction (2019, August 23) retrieved 23 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-08-scientists-closer-northern-white-rhino.html

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#Biology

[reseau-actu]

ENQUÊTE - Passer toute sa vie avec le «même» chien ou chat est désormais possible. Plus uniquement l’apanage des grands centres de recherche, le clonage prend de l’ampleur.

Cet après-midi de janvier 2019, Huang Yu tournait ses idées noires. Il venait de rentrer du jardin public, non loin de chez lui, où il avait enterré son chat Dasuan et, déjà, la perte lui semblait insurmontable. Il aurait voulu le garder auprès de lui. Et si c’était possible? Huang Yu caressa longuement l’idée, puis se décida à agir. Quelque chose pouvait encore être fait. Il enfila son manteau, et sortit dans le froid piquant, une pelle à la main. Une heure plus tard, le jeune homme d’affaires refermait la porte de son frigo sur la dépouille du British shorthair, et composait nerveusement le numéro de Sinogene, une entreprise de biotechnologie sise dans la capitale chinoise.

«Bonjour. J’aimerais cloner mon chat.»

Neuf mois se sont écoulés depuis que les employés de Sinogene sont venus prélever des échantillons de peau de Dasuan. Vendredi 20 septembre, un chaton de deux mois a été livré chez Huang Yu. La fourrure différait par endroits, et les yeux n’étaient pas tout à fait de la même couleur, mais l’entreprise l’assure, il s’agit bien d’une copie génétique parfaite de son ami décédé. Le premier chat jamais cloné en Chine.

» LIRE AUSSI - Luc Ferry: «Les biotechnologies en question»

Une percée? D’un point de vue scientifique, pas de quoi fouetter un greffier: cela fait 18 ans que «CopyCat», le premier chat cloné, a vu le jour aux États-Unis. Pour le business en revanche, la naissance de Dasuan marque l’entrée dans une nouvelle ère. Activité extravagante réservée aux très riches (Huang Yu a déboursé 35.000 dollars pour Dasuan), ce type de clonage pourrait bien bénéficier de l’explosion du marché chinois des animaux de compagnie, estimé à 22 milliards de dollars, pour un total de 100 millions de chats et chiens. Une tendance flairée par Sinogene dès 2015 grâce à une étude de marché qui a poussé l’entreprise de biotechnologie à investir le secteur. En l’espace de deux ans, une cinquantaine de chiens clonés ont vu le jour dans le laboratoire chinois. «La plupart de nos clients sont Chinois, mais nous comptons également quelques Japonais et des Européens», commente Eric Li, porte-parole de Siogene. «La perception que les gens ont de leurs animaux de compagnie évolue, il y a de grandes chances que ce marché continue de s’étendre.»

Dasuan, premier chat cloné en Chine, le 2 septembre 2019, à Pékin (STR / AFP) - Crédits photo : STR/AFP

Futuriste et cauchemardesque pour le grand public, qui en ignore souvent l’existence, presque artisanal, selon ses acteurs, le marché du clonage des animaux de compagnie charrie pêle-mêle des images angoissantes de laboratoires opaques, d’animaux inconscients et de blouses immaculées. «Merci Hollywood!», s’esclaffe l’homme d’affaires américain Jonathan Thatcher, «les gens imaginent des choses effarantes sur le clonage, mais concrètement, c’est bien plus banal que ce que l’on en dit». La technique, nommée Transfert nucléaire de cellules somatiques (SCNT), n’a effectivement pas changé depuis le clonage de la brebis Dolly en 1996. En deux mots, le noyau d’un ovule non fécondé est remplacé par le noyau d’une cellule issue de l’animal que l’on souhaite cloner, puis l’embryon ainsi formé est transféré dans l’utérus d’une mère porteuse. Quelques mois plus tard, la mère porteuse accouche d’une «copie génétique» de l’animal cible.

Trois entreprises de premier plan dans le monde

Si Jonathan Thatcher n’est pas le père du clonage commercial, il en est peut-être le parrain. Au tournant du siècle, c’est lui qui dirigeait pour l’excentrique milliardaire John Sperling la holding américaine Exeter Life Sciences, versée dans les biotechnologies. «Tout est parti de lui», explique Jonathan Thatcher. «C’est parce que John et sa femme s’étaient mis en tête de cloner leur chien Missy qu’on a lancé Genetic Savings and Clone (GSC) en 2000», considérée comme la première entreprise du secteur. Une tâche particulièrement compliquée de prime abord. «On a commencé par les chats. On y est arrivé avec Copycat, en décembre 2001.» En 2004, GSC produit pour 50.000 dollars le premier animal cloné à des fins commerciales: un Maine Coon nommé Little Nicky. Las, malgré d’importants progrès, l’équipe se heurte aux difficultés du clonage des chiens, plus complexe. GSC devra finalement mettre la clef sous la porte en 2006, faute de demande. L’impulsion de John Sperling aura toutefois été décisive. «Ses investissements ont braqué les projecteurs sur le clonage commercial, ça a accéléré le développement du business», commente Jonathan Thatcher. «Mais soyons sérieux, le clonage d’animaux de compagnie sera toujours un marché de niche».

Un marché qui ne se limite pas aux seuls animaux de compagnie

Aujourd’hui, les acteurs de ce secteur se comptent encore sur les doigts d’une main, avec trois entreprises de premier plan, au nombre desquels Sinogene est le dernier arrivé. En Corée du Sud, le laboratoire Sooam du sulfureux professeur Hwang Woo-suk - condamné à deux ans de prison en 2009 pour violation de la loi bioéthique et détournement de fonds - a cloné près d’un millier de chiens depuis 2006, à raison de 100.000 dollars l’unité. Aux États-Unis, l’entreprise ViaGen Pets and Equine a pris la succession de GSC après sa faillite. Basée au Texas, ce laboratoire clone des chats et des chiens - c’est à lui que Barbra Streisand s’est adressée en 2018 pour faire cloner sa chienne en double exemplaire - mais aussi des chevaux: un millier de poulains depuis 2010, selon son directeur Blake Russell. Car le marché du clonage animal ne se limite pas aux seuls animaux de compagnie.

Des équipes de clones

Qu’on élargisse le spectre de l’enquête aux équins, et le nombre d’entreprises sur le secteur bondit. «Pour un cheval, nous facturons entre 80.000 et 120.000 euros l’unité», explique le professeur Cesare Galli, fondateur du laboratoire italien de reproduction assistée Avantea. Ancien directeur du laboratoire de technologie reproductive de Crémone, c’est sous sa houlette qu’a eu lieu le premier clonage de cheval, en 2003. Ce n’est pas son activité principale, mais il lui arrive encore de produire des copies de chevaux exceptionnels, «deux ou trois spécimens par an pour des clients fortunés en Europe et au Proche-Orient». D’autres sociétés, comme les Américains de Crestview Genetics, ont fait du clonage de chevaux de compétition un business à part entière.

Et ça marche. Depuis que la Fédération équestre internationale a autorisé la participation de clones aux compétitions internationales de polo en 2012, il est devenu fréquent d’y voir double, triple, et plus encore. Dès 2013, l’équipe La Dolfina remportait l’Open d’Argentine, la plus prestigieuse compétition de polo, avec un cheval cloné par Crestview dans son équipe. Interrogé alors, son cavalier et numéro 1 mondial Adolfo Cambiaso rêvait tout haut de «disputer un match de polo avec seulement des chevaux clonés». C’était chose faite trois ans plus tard. À l’Open de 2016, l’intégralité des six montures du prodige argentin étaient des clones de la même jument.

« Les gens croient qu’ils mangent de jolies petites vaches qui ont grandi dans de beaux paysages pleins de pâquerette, mais ce n’est pas comme ça qu’on fait la nourriture aujourd’hui ! »

Jonathan Thatcher, ancien directeur du fonds d’investissement américain Exeter Life Sciences

Pour autant, le clonage ne sert pas qu’à photocopier des champions. «On peut aussi reproduire des étalons reproducteurs, qui vont transmettre leur patrimoine génétique exceptionnel à leur descendance», note Cesare Galli. «Cela serait intéressant pour la filière de l’élevage alimentaire, mais l’Europe interdit depuis 2015 la commercialisation de viande et de lait issus de clones ou de leurs descendants». D’après lui, les études menées sur les produits issus de clones ont démontré qu’ils sont inoffensifs, ce que confirme l’Autorité européenne de sécurité des aliments (AESA) dans un rapport publié en 2012. Le gendarme européen réserve toutefois son jugement face à la quantité jugée insuffisante de données disponibles, et s’inquiète du développement anormal de certains clones.»

» LIRE AUSSI - Les Chinois veulent cloner un million de vaches pour se nourrir

Pas de quoi échauder la Food and Drug Administration (FDA), qui a autorisé dès 2008 la commercialisation de produits alimentaires issus de clones sur le territoire américain. «Aujourd’hui les descendants de clones sont partout, c’est devenu un élément standard de la production agroalimentaire aux États-Unis», sourit Jonathan Thatcher, qui a argumenté en faveur de leur légalisation auprès de la FDA dans les années 2000. «Les gens parlent de ‘Frankenfood’, ils croient qu’ils mangent de jolies petites vaches qui ont grandi dans de beaux paysages pleins de pâquerette, mais ce n’est pas comme ça qu’on fait la nourriture aujourd’hui!»

Outre les États-Unis, le Canada, le Brésil, l’Argentine et l’Australie autorisent également la commercialisation de produits issus de clones. Mais c’est encore en Chine que le marché du clonage animal pourrait très prochainement atteindre des proportions jusqu’alors jamais vues. La demande chinoise de viande continue d’exploser dans ce pays devenu ces dernières années le premier consommateur mondial de viande, et le gouvernement chinois a mis en place une politique visant à l’établissement d’élevages de très grande envergure. Et pour assurer les semences, de véritables «usines à clones» sont déjà en construction.

En 2015, l’entreprise chinoise de biotechnologie Boyalife Group a investi pas moins de 30 millions de dollars dans la construction d’un gigantesque laboratoire destiné au clonage de chevaux de course, de chiens renifleurs et de taureaux reproducteurs. Situé à Tianjin, dans le nord de la Chine, le site de 14.000 mètres carrés produira «dans un premier temps» 100.000 embryons de bovins, «avant d’augmenter la production à un million par an», selon le site internet de Boyalife. L’entreprise prévoit 28 filiales dans 16 provinces chinoises.

[amivitale]

Photo by @amivitale. Breaking news!! THREE more northern white rhino embryos have been created this month by @biorescue_project, the global team of scientists and conservationists working to save the species from extinction at @olpejeta conservancy in northern Kenya. This brings the total to TWELVE embryos. This time they were able to use sperm from Angalifu, improving the genetic diversity of the embryos. Head rhino keeper @zacharia443 sits with Najin, one of the last 2 northern white rhinos before the operation (1). The scientists and conservationists of Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (@leibnizizw), @SafariParkDvurKralove @KenyaWildlifeService @OlPejeta Conservancy and #Avantea conducted this sixth successful oocyte collection on July 9 (2). Prof. Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt of @leibnizizw meticulously looks for the oocytes with Susanne Holtze (3-4). Frank Goeritz checks on Fatu while she is anesthetized (5). KWS Veterinarian Domnic Mijele, Ol Pejeta Vet Stephen Ngulu and Frank Goeritz in the operation (6). Immediately after the oocyte retrieval, the 17 eggs were airlifted accompanied by Dr. Hildebrandt (7) to Avantea laboratory in Cremona, Italy for maturation, fertilization, embryo development and cryopreservation. Two embryos were produced using semen from northern white rhino bull Suni, who has provided the genetics for all the existing embryos; the third embryo was from Angalifu. TWELVE pure northern white rhino embryos await implantation in southern white rhino surrogates, a step expected to begin by the end of 2021. Owuan is the sterilized southern white rhino bull who will serve as the oestrus detector for the females as they come into season. (9) Ariemet (19yo) and Mojo (11yo) are southern white rhino surrogates who will carry the northern white rhino embryos. Neither Najin nor Fatu are able to carry a pregnancy. Both southern white rhino surrogates have successfully carried before. Ariemet has 4 calves and Mojo, 1. (10) Learn more, including how to help, by following @biorescue_project. @tunajibu @tourism_wildlifeke @bmbf.bund @leibnizgemeinschaft @natgeo #kenya #NorthernWhiteRhinos #nikonambassador #nikonnofilter #rhinos (at Ol Pejeta Conservancy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CR66DJ2MVoW/?utm_medium=tumblr