15/10/2025
We are proud to share that this remarkable image, taken at Ol Pejeta and documenting the world’s first successful embryo transfer in rhinos, has been awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 (Photojournalism Category) at the Natural History Museum in London.
Captured by Spanish photographer Jon A Juarez during a BioRescue Project procedure, the photograph documents a scientific breakthrough that brings renewed hope for the critically endangered northern white rhino – a species with only two individuals left on Earth, Najin and her daughter Fatu, both living at Ol Pejeta.
The image shows a southern white rhino foetus, which sadly did not survive due to infection. It was the result of the first successful rhino embryo transfer into a surrogate mother through IVF. This breakthrough paves the way for saving the critically endangered northern white rhino from extinction, as scientists prepare for the next crucial step – transferring the first northern white rhino embryo into a southern white rhino surrogate.
“This photo not only show the delicate balance of life but also serves as a beacon of hope that through collaborative efforts and improved scientific techniques, we can save not just one but many more species” – Dr Florence Kang’ethe, Resident Veterinarian, Ol Pejeta
“I wanted to tell the story of this foetus in a single image — one that would portray it with respect, while revealing its fragile, translucent skin that would soon fade away,” says award-winner Jon A Juárez.
Photo: Jon A Juarez
BioRescue Project
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
SAFARI PARK DVŮR KRÁLOVÉ
Kenya Wildlife Service
