NANYUKI, KENYA — The death of the last male northern white rhino may mean probable extinction for the subspecies, but scientists are working on a plan to save them.<br /><br />The New York Times reports that Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino died in Kenya on Monday, leaving the only two females, neither of which is can carry a pregnancy to term.<br /><br />The best plan to carry on the species is through in-vitro fertilization, using eggs extracted from the surviving females, and stored sperm from dead males.<br /><br />The fertilized egg would be implanted in a surrogate southern white rhino, the species' closest living relative, which would carry the calf to term.<br /><br />If successful, scientists hope to use the procedure to create a herd of five to fifteen rhinos, that would eventually be returned to their natural habitat, according to the Chicago Tribune.<br /><br />With the IVF method costing as much as $9 million, conservationists hope to raise enough money and implement it before it's too late.
