Saving the white rhino - 6 Minute English

Northern white rhinos are extinct in the wild. Conservationists are working on an artificial breeding programme, using eggs from the last two females in captivity in Kenya and sperm from a deceased male to preserve the species. Neil and Sam talk about the research by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question
Recently there’s been a new development in the story, but before we hear more, it’s time for my quiz question. The name, ‘rhinoceros’, comes from the ancient Greek, but what exactly does it mean?

a) thick skin
b) horned nose
c) small eye

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
embryo
an unborn animal or human being in the very early stages of development, inside its mother’s womb

inbreeding
when animals or people are born by breeding between closely related parents

hybrid
animal or plant that has been bred from two different species

calf
the young of several large mammals including cows, elephants, whales and rhinos

pregnancy
the state of a woman or female animal having a baby developing in their womb

ultrasound
procedure which uses ultrasonic sound waves to create images of internal body parts or babies growing inside the body

[Cover: Getty Images]

To download the audio and a transcript, go to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210701

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