Genetic Variation and Population Structure of the White Rhinoceros

As early as 3000 years ago, China has already had the records about rhinoceroses but they were extinct in. the mid-19th century. In 2001, Sanya Long Hui Animal Breeding Co., Ltd. imported White Rhinoceros from South Africa. In order to investigate the genetic variation and genetic structure of the white rhinoceros, 64 individuals were detected with 41 microsatellites loci. The result indicated that 7 of the 41 microsatellites loci yielded positive polymorphic bands, the average observed homozygosity was 0.2009, the homozygosity expected was 0.7400, the average polymorphism information content was 0.692 and the average number of alleles was 5.4285. Based on these data, researchers suggested that more attention should be paid to the discovery of White Rhinoceros individuals with rare allelic genotypes and at the same time more breeding opportunities needed to be provided for these individuals to avoid the loss of rare alleles. Rhinoceros is highly endangered species and the data obtained in this research could provide information relevant to their conservation.