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| A red kangaroo in the Australian Outback. |
Scientists Achieve IVF Breakthrough in Kangaroos, Offering Hope for Endangered SpeciesResearchers in Australia have achieved a groundbreaking scientific milestone by successfully creating the first-ever kangaroo embryos through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This breakthrough could play a crucial role in conserving endangered marsupial species and preventing their extinction.
Although kangaroos are abundant in Australia, the country has seen significant losses in its marsupial population due to habitat destruction and other environmental threats. Andres Gambini, lead researcher and lecturer at the University of Queensland, emphasized the potential of IVF technology in supporting conservation efforts for these unique mammals.
"Our team built on years of experience with reproductive technologies in livestock and horses," Gambini told NBC News. "By adapting these techniques to the unique biology of kangaroos, we successfully created an embryo in the lab for the first time."
The research provides valuable insights into marsupial reproduction, which differs significantly from that of other mammals. Kangaroos, for instance, have notably short pregnancies, and their embryos can enter a state of suspended animation for months.
"Our success with IVF allows us to better understand the early stages of marsupial development," Gambini said.
A Race Against ExtinctionAustralia is recognized as one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. However, it also has the highest rate of mammal extinction. Since European settlement, at least 33 mammal species—many of them marsupials—have disappeared, according to Australia’s Invasive Species Council.
In response to this crisis, the Australian government introduced a 10-year "zero extinctions" plan in 2022, aiming to protect at-risk species and designate at least 30% of the country’s land for conservation.
"If we continue on our current path, more plants and animals will vanish," Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek warned. "Even koalas are now endangered on the east coast of Australia."
A 2023 report from the Australian Conservation Foundation highlights that over 2,200 species in the country are now classified as threatened. The report criticized existing conservation laws as ineffective, poorly monitored, and riddled with loopholes that allow habitat destruction.
A Step Forward for Wildlife ConservationWhile kangaroos are not endangered, researchers hope that their IVF success can be applied to other threatened marsupial species, such as koalas, Tasmanian devils, and northern hairy-nosed wombats.
"This technology offers a new tool for preserving genetic material in endangered species," Gambini said. "By creating and freezing embryos, we can safeguard the unique genetics of these animals."
IVF has previously been employed to aid endangered species. In 2023, scientists in Italy achieved the world’s first IVF pregnancy in a rhinoceros, raising hope for the survival of Kenya’s northern white rhino, of which only two individuals remain.
Despite this promising development, Gambini acknowledged that the road ahead remains long and filled with challenges.
"We are just at the beginning of this journey, and there is still much to discover," he said. "However, when combined with other conservation strategies, this breakthrough can make a real difference for species at risk."
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