Latest news with #rhino
CBC
15-07-2025
- Science
- CBC
Proteins from rhino fossil found in Nunavut crater dated to 20 million years
Social Sharing Scientists studying a 21-to 24-million-year-old rhino fossil found in the Haughton Crater on Nunavut's Devon Island say the high Arctic environment preserved the oldest recoverable ancient proteins found so far. The proteins recovered from the rhino tooth, found decades ago, are 10 times older than any previously recoverable sample of ancient DNA, said Danielle Fraser, the Canadian Museum of Nature's head of paleobiology and one of the research scientists involved in the study. The researchers, whose findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature, say their ability to time stamp the proteins well into "deep time" was made possible with newer technologies, and they say that should encourage future paleontological work in the world's coldest places to gather similarly preserved fossils. Reconstructing evolution was previously limited to four-million-year-old samples and the ancient proteins identified so far reached only into the middle-late miocene, roughly 10 million years ago. Ancient DNA does not typically survive beyond one million years, but the high Arctic's dry, cold environment, and the hardiness of tooth enamel, kept the proteins in the rhino fossil intact. In a lab in Copenhagen, scientists successfully extracted and sequenced data from the proteins inside the tooth, Fraser said. "It's very clear that the Arctic is creating a freezer allowing these proteins in these animals to be preserved over much longer time periods than we would expect. This really extends our ability to understand evolution back much farther than we previously thought," said Fraser. To understand deep time, Fraser says, imagine a clock representing the entire history of the evolution of life on earth. "Humans are the last few milliseconds on that clock right before you hit the 12," she said. "And that 23 million years is going to be about five minutes ago." This scientific study analyzed highly-preserved fossils by looking at their ancient proteins, rather than morphology — what the bones look like compared to each other — to determine an extinct species' evolutionary path. Rhinos once lived across the world, with some debate about whether the species originated in Asia or North America. Ancient DNA science can provide better insight into how and when they evolved, said Fraser. Rhino evolution Modern rhinos are thought to have diverged from other rhinocerotids during the Middle Eocene-Oligocene, between 25 and 41 million years ago. The study's authors say their research supports the divergence of two main subfamilies of rhinos (Elasmotheriinae and Rhinocerotinae), and a bone analysis suggests a more recent split, roughly 22 to 34 million years ago. The unique environment of the Haughton Crater on Devon Island is promising for future studies on preserved proteins, said Fraser. The rhino fossil was collected decades ago by the late Mary Dawson, a vertebrate paleontologist from Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Dawson collected it in 1986 at a time when protein extraction and ancient DNA technology "effectively didn't exist," according to Fraser. Fraser said in recent years, teams working on Devon Island or Ellesmere Island have worked with local community members like Jarloo Kiguktak of Grise Fiord, Nunavut. Kiguktak, an experienced fossil collector, said he joins the researchers on their search for specimens. How did they do it? The study's authors say they sequenced enamel proteins from the rhino fossil and more than 1,000 amino acid chains (peptides), which are the building blocks of proteins. They confirmed the proteins were ancient by matching the signs of age-related damage to expected burial conditions more than 20 million years ago in the Arctic environment, the researchers said. Dental enamel is the hardest material of vertebrates and it protects the proteins from breaking down over time, the research states. Fraser said while paleontology may sometimes be seen as "nerds studying their dinosaurs," these findings allow for reconstruction of molecular patterns. "We are nerds, and we love studying our fossils," she said.
News24
14-07-2025
- News24
Body of suspected rhino poacher found morning after shootout in Kruger National Park
The body of a suspected poacher was found in the Kruger National Park over the weekend. It is suspected that he was killed during a shootout with field rangers the previous night. Rangers returned to the scene to continue the search for the alleged poachers and it was during this time that they discovered a dead body with a gunshot wound. The body of a suspected rhino poacher has been found in the Kruger National Park. According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the body was found in the game reserve on Saturday morning, 'and it is suspected that he could have been shot during a shootout with field rangers the previous night, around 21:00'. Ndubane said three field rangers were on patrol at Nwari block on Friday night when they came into contact with three suspected poachers. 'The rangers ordered them to stop, but the suspected poachers responded by opening fire at the rangers,' he said. The rangers returned fire and the alleged poachers ran into the dark. Due to poor lighting, the rangers abandoned their pursuit. 'The next morning, the rangers returned to the scene to further conduct the search for the alleged poachers whilst patrolling the surrounding areas. It was during this time that they discovered the lifeless body of a male person with a gunshot wound at the Lower Sabie region of the park, lying on the ground. There was also a backpack next to him,' Ndubane said. Inside the backpack, two Rhino horns were found. Police were notified, and paramedics certified the man dead. 'An investigation is under way. The man has not yet been identified. The other two suspected poachers are still at large,' said Ndubane. Last month, a suspected poacher was shot dead, and another was arrested during a shootout with rangers who caught them trespassing at the Kruger National Park's Satara area. One of the men was carrying a firearm. When rangers ordered them to stop, he opened fire and a shootout ensued. Police recovered a hunting rifle, five live rounds of ammunition, an axe, a knife, and two cellphones from the scene.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Proteins from rhino fossil found in Nunavut crater dated to 20 million years
Scientists studying a 21 to 24-million-year-old rhino fossil found in the Haughton Crater on Nunavut's Devon Island say the high Arctic environment preserved the oldest recoverable ancient proteins found so far. The proteins recovered from the rhino tooth, found decades ago, are 10 times older than any previously recoverable sample of ancient DNA, said Danielle Fraser, the Canadian Museum of Nature's head of paleobiology and one of the research scientists involved in the study. The researchers, whose findings were published Wednesday in the journal Nature, say their ability to time stamp the proteins well into "deep time" was made possible with newer technologies, and they say that should encourage future paleontological work in the world's coldest places to gather similarly preserved fossils. Reconstructing evolution was previously limited to four-million-year-old samples and the ancient proteins identified so far reached only into the middle-late miocene, roughly 10 million years ago. Ancient DNA does not typically survive beyond one million years, but the high Arctic's dry, cold environment, and the hardiness of tooth enamel, kept the proteins in the rhino fossil intact. In a lab in Copenhagen, scientists successfully extracted and sequenced data from the proteins inside the tooth, Fraser said. "It's very clear that the Arctic is creating a freezer allowing these proteins in these animals to be preserved over much longer time periods than we would expect. This really extends our ability to understand evolution back much farther than we previously thought," said Fraser. To understand deep time, Fraser says, imagine a clock representing the entire history of the evolution of life on earth. "Humans are the last few milliseconds on that clock right before you hit the 12," she said. "And that 23 million years is going to be about five minutes ago." This scientific study analyzed highly-preserved fossils by looking at their ancient proteins, rather than morphology — what the bones look like compared to each other — to determine an extinct species' evolutionary path. Rhinos once lived across the world, with some debate about whether the species originated in Asia or North America. Ancient DNA science can provide better insight into how and when they evolved, said Fraser. Modern rhinos are thought to have diverged from other rhinocerotids during the Middle Eocene-Oligocene, between 25 and 41 million years ago. The study's authors say their research supports the divergence of two main subfamilies of rhinos (Elasmotheriinae and Rhinocerotinae), and a bone analysis suggests a more recent split, roughly 22 to 34 million years ago. The unique environment of the Haughton Crater on Devon Island is promising for future studies on preserved proteins, said Fraser. The rhino fossil was collected decades ago by the late Mary Dawson, a vertebrate paleontologist from Philadelphia's Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Dawson collected it in 1986 at a time when protein extraction and ancient DNA technology "effectively didn't exist," according to Fraser. Fraser said in recent years, teams working on Devon Island or Ellesmere Island have worked with local community members like Jarloo Kiguktak of Grise Fiord, Nunavut. Kiguktak, an experienced fossil collector, said he joins the researchers on their search for specimens. The study's authors say they sequenced enamel proteins from the rhino fossil and more than 1,000 amino acid chains (peptides), which are the building blocks of proteins. They confirmed the proteins were ancient by matching the signs of age-related damage to expected burial conditions more than 20 million years ago in the Arctic environment, the researchers said. Dental enamel is the hardest material of vertebrates and it protects the proteins from breaking down over time, the research states. Fraser said while paleontology may sometimes be seen as "nerds studying their dinosaurs," these findings allow for reconstruction of molecular patterns. "We are nerds, and we love studying our fossils," she said. The fossil record is the "only record of the ancient world," and of animal species' long-term response to changes in climate, she said.
Malay Mail
09-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
How to move a rhino? Think dart guns, helicopters, and a whole lot of patience
NAKURU (Kenya), June 10 — Barely feeling the tranquiliser shot, the panic-stricken female rhinoceros ran to take shelter in a wooded area, eluding the low-flying helicopter trying to prevent her escape. The rhino was supposed to be transferred to another park in Kenya on Saturday, but outsmarted the humans. A few minutes later, rangers in 4x4 vehicles searched through thickets too dense for the crane truck that was meant to carry her away. A decision was quickly made to administer the antidote to the tranquilise to prevent her from collapsing. If she fell the wrong way, she could suffocate. The young female will therefore remain where she was born. 'The rhino is the worst one to translocate,' said Taru Sheldrick, who was piloting the helicopter in Nakuru National Park in northwest Kenya, an oasis of greenery surrounding a deep blue lake. 'When you dart them, if you don't have long enough, they're running straight for thick bush, which is their security,' he said. 'Whenever you're darting a rhino, you have a little bit of fear. Because it's a species in danger. Every animal is just so important.' Rhinos, which can weigh up to two tonnes, were once abundant in sub-Saharan Africa. But hunting by European colonisers and later large-scale poaching pushed them to the brink of extinction. Race against time The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) says there are about 28,000 left in the world, nearly 24,000 in Africa. Kenya is home to more than 2,000 of them. Rhinos reproduce less efficiently if too many of its kin live in the same location, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which manages the country's parks. Moving them is therefore important, but rhinos are vulnerable to tranquilisers that slow their breathing, increase their body temperature and affect their heart rate, said Dr Dominic Mijele from KWS. So it is a race against time as soon as a veterinarian, aboard a helicopter, administers the drug using a dart gun. Five to seven minutes after injection, the rhino begins to feel groggy. Then it collapses, as AFP observed on Saturday: after the first female retreated into the bush, three other black rhinos were anaesthetised within the span of a few hours in Nakuru. A rescue team arrived on-site within two minutes of each shot, moving like a well-oiled machine. Kenya Wildlife Service veterinarians and rangers rush to restrain and aid a sedated female black Rhinoceros that has been selected for translocation to the Segera Rhino Sanctuary from the Lake Nakuru National Park. — AFP pic About a dozen caregivers surrounded the animals, spraying them with water to cool their body temperature, rolling them onto their sides to ensure their respiration was not obstructed, administering oxygen and monitoring their vital signs. Simultaneously, several other rangers secured the animals with straps threaded through the transport cage and attached to the front bumper of a jeep. Fifteen minutes after the rescue team's arrival, the antidote was administered. The animal then jolted to its feet and was promptly guided into a cage, which a crane loaded onto the flatbed of a truck. Kenya Wildlife Service veterinarians and rangers in action. — AFP pic 'Number one' Mijele boasted of Kenya's unmatched expertise. 'We are number one in the world. We have done so many rhino translocations successfully,' he said. Jochen Zeitz, the owner of the private Segera Reserve, where about 20 rhinos have been relocated in the past two weeks, could not hide his relief after the latest operation. On his 200 square kilometres of land, elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, cheetahs and more roam freely, said the former Puma CEO and current Harley-Davidson executive. But the reserve lacked 'this iconic species' which were present up until 60 years ago in Segera, but have since disappeared. Kenya Wildlife Service veterinarians and rangers help push a truck stuck in the mud, carrying a female black rhinoceros selected for translocation from Lake Nakuru National Park to the Segera Rhino Sanctuary. — AFP pic Welcoming rhinos back is 'completing the conservation work that we've done as a foundation over the last 22 years' since acquiring the land, he told AFP. Due to the high risk of poaching for their horns, security measures had to be significantly enhanced with 100-150 new security staff, Zeitz said. Late Saturday, a small group witnessed the release of the three rhinos from Nakuru, who had arrived in Segera after a six-hour drive. In the dense night darkness, they listened as the metal bars of the transport cages were removed, doors creaked open, and heavy stomping accompanied by guttural growls rang out. The rhinos had finally arrived at their new home. — AFP
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How to move a rhino
Barely feeling the tranquiliser shot, the panic-stricken female rhinoceros ran to take shelter in a wooded area, eluding the low-flying helicopter trying to prevent her escape. The rhino was supposed to be transferred to another park in Kenya on Saturday, but outsmarted the humans. A few minutes later, rangers in 4x4 vehicles searched through thickets too dense for the crane truck that was meant to carry her away. A decision was quickly made to administer the antidote to the tranquilise to prevent her from collapsing. If she fell the wrong way, she could suffocate. The young female will therefore remain where she was born. "The rhino is the worst one to translocate," said Taru Sheldrick, who was piloting the helicopter in Nakuru National Park in northwest Kenya, an oasis of greenery surrounding a deep blue lake. "When you dart them, if you don't have long enough, they're running straight for thick bush, which is their security," he said. "Whenever you're darting a rhino, you have a little bit of fear. Because it's a species in danger. Every animal is just so important." Rhinos, which can weigh up to two tonnes, were once abundant in sub-Saharan Africa. But hunting by European colonisers and later large-scale poaching pushed them to the brink of extinction. - Race against time - The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) says there are about 28,000 left in the world, nearly 24,000 in Africa. Kenya is home to more than 2,000 of them. Rhinos reproduce less efficiently if too many of its kin live in the same location, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which manages the country's parks. Moving them is therefore important, but rhinos are vulnerable to tranquilisers that slow their breathing, increase their body temperature and affect their heart rate, said Dr Dominic Mijele from KWS. So it is a race against time as soon as a veterinarian, aboard a helicopter, administers the drug using a dart gun. Five to seven minutes after injection, the rhino begins to feel groggy. Then it collapses, as AFP observed on Saturday: after the first female retreated into the bush, three other black rhinos were anaesthetised within the span of a few hours in Nakuru. A rescue team arrived on-site within two minutes of each shot, moving like a well-oiled machine. About a dozen caregivers surrounded the animals, spraying them with water to cool their body temperature, rolling them onto their sides to ensure their respiration was not obstructed, administering oxygen and monitoring their vital signs. Simultaneously, several other rangers secured the animals with straps threaded through the transport cage and attached to the front bumper of a jeep. Fifteen minutes after the rescue team's arrival, the antidote was administered. The animal then jolted to its feet and was promptly guided into a cage, which a crane loaded onto the flatbed of a truck. - 'Number one' - Mijele boasted of Kenya's unmatched expertise. "We are number one in the world. We have done so many rhino translocations successfully," he said. Jochen Zeitz, the owner of the private Segera Reserve, where about 20 rhinos have been relocated in the past two weeks, could not hide his relief after the latest operation. On his 200 square kilometres of land, elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, cheetahs and more roam freely, said the former Puma CEO and current Harley-Davidson executive. But the reserve lacked "this iconic species" which were present up until 60 years ago in Segera, but have since disappeared. Welcoming rhinos back is "completing the conservation work that we've done as a foundation over the last 22 years" since acquiring the land, he told AFP. Due to the high risk of poaching for their horns, security measures had to be significantly enhanced with 100-150 new security staff, Zeitz said. Late Saturday, a small group witnessed the release of the three rhinos from Nakuru, who had arrived in Segera after a six-hour drive. In the dense night darkness, they listened as the metal bars of the transport cages were removed, doors creaked open, and heavy stomping accompanied by guttural growls rang out. The rhinos had finally arrived at their new home. jf/er/cw
