Australian scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by creating the world’s first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilization (IVF), a development they believe could help protect endangered species from extinction.

Using samples from eastern grey kangaroos, researchers successfully injected a single sperm cell into an egg. However, they note that achieving a live birth will require further research and technological advancements.

Lead researcher Andres Gambini emphasised that this breakthrough offers crucial insights into marsupial reproduction and could assist conservation efforts for species such as the koala, Tasmanian devil, northern hairy-nosed wombat, and Leadbeater’s possum.

Australia is home to the world’s largest diversity of marsupial mammals, but it also has the highest rate of mammal extinctions.

The University of Queensland team studied the development of kangaroo eggs and sperm in a laboratory setting before using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to create embryos. This method, already used in human and domestic animal reproduction, was tested on deceased eastern grey kangaroos—chosen for their abundant populations and non-endangered status.

Despite marsupials’ ecological importance, studies on their reproductive tissues remain limited.

“We are now refining techniques to collect, culture and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm,” said Dr Gambini, adding that such methods would play a crucial role in safeguarding “the genetic material of these unique and precious animals”.

Scientists hope IVF technology can serve as a tool for species conservation worldwide.

In 2023, researchers successfully achieved the world’s first IVF rhino pregnancy, transferring a lab-created embryo into a surrogate mother in Kenya. Similarly, in 2018, IVF was used to create the world’s first donkey embryo, showcasing its potential in safeguarding biodiversity across species.