DNA samples taken from a deceased white rhinoceros on Thursday 18 November could help save the species, with the population dwindling and approaching threatened status.

Clara, a 40-year-old Southern white rhino, was euthanised on 10 November after a period of declining health.

The mammal lived at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, where the resident veterinary team completed a post-mortem.

They found that the animal’s weight loss – due to not eating properly – was down to severe dental disease, which is a common cause of death in older rhinos.

While they confirmed it was the “right decision” to euthanise the creature, the post-mortem allowed the team to take over 70 tissue samples – which can now be used for veterinary and conservation scientific research.

Now, her cells will be used to create an “immortal cell line” – enabling her cells to be used to study white rhino biology and genetics.

The white rhino is currently classified as Near Threatened, and around 18,000 animals exist in protected areas and private game reserves.

ZSL’s wildlife veterinary pathologist, Dr Simon Spiro said: “Doing a post-mortem in an animal doesn’t just aid our understanding of a disease in that individual animal, it also aids our understanding of the species in the wild.

“It can help our vets increase their understanding of new syndromes, potential threats to other animals, and clinical decision-making.

“What we found in Clara was some really quite nasty dental disease, all very age-related. Her dental problems were severe and were stopping her from being able to eat, and could not have been rectified.

“She was unable to properly digest food. This is often the cause of death in older rhinos. It was the right decision by the veterinary team to euthanise Clara before she experienced pain from the condition.

“With the future of rhinos in such jeopardy, ZSL’s own DNA bank will keep a copy of Clara’s genome to store indefinitely, and the specialist programme The Rhino Fertility Project at the University of Oxford is working to develop ways to grow immature eggs from Clara's ovary and generate mature eggs from them so that they can potentially be fertilised to produce white rhino embryos in the future.”

“Meanwhile, a skin sample from Clara’s ear will be treated and cryopreserved by partner organisation Nature’s SAFE, a living biobank, who store cell lines from endangered animal species.

“Clara’s cells will be used to create an immortal cell line, so that her cells can be used to study white rhino biology and genetics for years to come.”

A third collaboration – with the Wellcome Sanger Institute – will use Clara’s tissue to investigate the genetics of aging.

At 40, she was the equivalent of an 80 or 90-year-old human, so may have accumulated genetic mutations throughout her life.

Dr Spiro said: “By studying her cells to see if they have mutated, scientists may be able to see if rhinos age the same way as humans age, whether they are better or worse at resisting aging, and use that information to better understand the development of cancers and heart disease.

“Even in death, there can be life. While it is very sad for all of us that Clara’s gone, her tissues will influence the way we look after and protect this incredible species in the wild for years to come.

“In that sense, Clara will be part of the future conservation of this incredible species in a way that will live on forever.”

Samples of a deceased white rhinoceros could help save the species – with the population dwindling and approaching threatened status.

Clara, a 40-year-old Southern white rhino, was euthanised on 10 November after a period of declining health.

The mammal lived at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, where the resident veterinary team completed a post-mortem.

They found that the animal’s weight loss – due to not eating properly – was down to severe dental disease, which is a common cause of death in older rhinos.

While they confirmed it was the “right decision” to euthanise the creature, the post-mortem allowed the team to take over 70 tissue samples – which can now be used for veterinary and conservation scientific research.

Now, her cells will be used to create an “immortal cell line” – enabling her cells to be used to study white rhino biology and genetics.

The white rhino is currently classified as Near Threatened, and around 18,000 animals exist in protected areas and private game reserves.

ZSL’s wildlife veterinary pathologist, Dr Simon Spiro said: “Doing a post-mortem in an animal doesn’t just aid our understanding of a disease in that individual animal, it also aids our understanding of the species in the wild.

“It can help our vets increase their understanding of new syndromes, potential threats to other animals, and clinical decision-making.

“What we found in Clara was some really quite nasty dental disease, all very age-related. Her dental problems were severe and were stopping her from being able to eat, and could not have been rectified.

“She was unable to properly digest food. This is often the cause of death in older rhinos. It was the right decision by the veterinary team to euthanise Clara before she experienced pain from the condition.

“With the future of rhinos in such jeopardy, ZSL’s own DNA bank will keep a copy of Clara’s genome to store indefinitely, and the specialist programme The Rhino Fertility Project at the University of Oxford is working to develop ways to grow immature eggs from Clara's ovary and generate mature eggs from them so that they can potentially be fertilised to produce white rhino embryos in the future.”

“Meanwhile, a skin sample from Clara’s ear will be treated and cryopreserved by partner organisation Nature’s SAFE, a living biobank, who store cell lines from endangered animal species.

“Clara’s cells will be used to create an immortal cell line, so that her cells can be used to study white rhino biology and genetics for years to come.”

A third collaboration – with the Wellcome Sanger Institute – will use Clara’s tissue to investigate the genetics of aging.

At 40, she was the equivalent of an 80 or 90-year-old human, so may have accumulated genetic mutations throughout her life.

Dr Spiro said: “By studying her cells to see if they have mutated, scientists may be able to see if rhinos age the same way as humans age, whether they are better or worse at resisting aging, and use that information to better understand the development of cancers and heart disease.

“Even in death, there can be life. While it is very sad for all of us that Clara’s gone, her tissues will influence the way we look after and protect this incredible species in the wild for years to come.

“In that sense, Clara will be part of the future conservation of this incredible species in a way that will live on forever.”