Our core veterinary team consists of experienced veterinarians and embryologists from South Africa and Europe with advanced expertise in animal reproduction. United by a commitment to wildlife conservation, we focus on developing and implementing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for endangered species.
Dr Janine Barkas (Meuffels) – Veterinarian (DVM, PhD, MVetMed, BSc, MRCVS)
Dr. Barkas-Meuffels is a veterinarian specialising in wildlife conservation and reproductive medicine. After earning her veterinary degree from Ghent University in 2014, she gained experience with wildlife in the US and worked in mixed practices across Germany and Northern Ireland, focusing on livestock obstetrics and fertility. She registered with veterinary councils in South Africa and Zimbabwe to work on conservation projects throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. Janine helped develop improved biobanking and cryopreservation methods, earning a PhD in Veterinary Science in 2022. She is now completing a postdoctoral fellowship, continuing her research in reproductive technologies and conservation.
Dr Imke Wiemann (Lueders) – Veterinarian (DVM, PhD, DiplECZM(ZHM))
Dr. Wiemann is a scientist and zoo veterinarian with nearly 20 years’ experience studying wild mammal reproduction worldwide. As an internationally recognized expert in large vertebrate reproduction she is a certified European Specialist in Zoo Health Management and author of numerous research publications. For over 15 years, Dr. Wiemann has led collaborative projects in South Africa with funding from major organizations. Her expertise in assisted reproduction and her global network were instrumental in developing CryoVault.
Jana van Selms – Embryologist (MSc, BSc)
Jana van Selms grew up on a sheep farm in South Africa, sparking her passion for animals and conservation. She earned a BSc in Animal Science at Stellenbosch University in 2022 and an MSc in 2024, focusing on cryopreservation of Southern white rhinoceros semen. With practical experience in IVF across cattle, goats, and wildlife, she joined the Rhino Force CryoVault team in 2025, where she now works to create rhino embryos as part of conservation efforts.
Mario Smuts – Veterinary Technologist (NHDip, MVSc)
Mario is a Veterinary Technologist specialising in animal embryology and assisted reproductive technologies. He holds a National Higher Diploma in Veterinary Technology from Tshwane University of Technology and a Master’s in Veterinary Science from the University of Pretoria. Since joining the Department of Production Animal Studies at the University of Pretoria in 2010, Mario has been instrumental in establishing a cutting-edge IVF lab at Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital. His expertise includes semen analysis, embryo development, and ART in humans, cattle, horses, and rhinoceroses.
Rhino Publication List
Barkas-Meuffels J, Callealta I, Smuts M, Ververs C, Bertschinger H, Lueders I. Semen collection field cryopreservation using urethral catheterization techniques in southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) under field conditions (in preparation).
Smuts M, Barkas-Meuffels J, Lueders I, Betschinger H, Holm D E. Factors affecting sperm morphology of southern white rhinoceros bulls (Ceratotherium simum simum) intended for assisted reproductive technologies in South Africa (in preparation).
Barkas-Meuffels J, Luther-Binoir I, Bertschinger H, Callealta I, Tindall B, Lueders I. New technical aspects of improved semen collection procedures in African rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum; Diceros bicornis) under field conditions. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. (under review)
Meuffels-Barkas, J., Wilsher, S., Allen, W. T., Ververs, C., & Lueders, I. (2023). Comparative reproduction of the female horse, elephant and rhinoceros: implications for advancing assisted reproductive technologies. Reproduction and Fertility, 4(3).
Meuffels, J., Lueders, I., Bertschinger, H., Luther-Binoir, I., Pohlin, F., Gerber, L., & Tindall, B. (2021). Cardiopulmonary Parameters and Arterial Blood Gases During Etorphine-Medetomidine-Midazolam Immobilization in Free-Ranging Black Rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) Undergoing Electro-Ejaculation—A Preliminary Study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 740614.
Meuffels, J., Bertschinger, H., Tindall, B., Pohlin, F., Luther-Binoir, I., Trivedi, S., … & Lueders, I. (2022). Arterial Blood Gases and Cardiorespiratory Parameters in Etorphine-Medetomidine-Midazolam Immobilized Free-Ranging and Game-Farmed Southern White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) Undergoing Electro-Ejaculation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 862100.
Meuffels J (2022). Male gamete rescue for genetic biobanking by semen collection via electro-ejaculation and cryopreservation in free-ranging African rhinoceroses (Cerathotherium simumsimum; Diceros bicornis) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana). PhD Thesis, University of Pretoria.
Lueders, I., Barkas-Meuffels, J., Tindall, B., Smuts, M., Ververs, C. (2024). Factors affecting recovery rate of oocytes by ovum pick-up technique under filed conditions in white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). Proceedings 2024 Joint AAZV EAZWV Conference, Toronto, Canada.
Lueders I, Pohlin F, Tindall B, Callealta I, Ververs C, Steinecker J, Painer J, Barkas-Meuffels J (2023). Etorphine-free anaesthesia for prolonged procedures in white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) maintained by triple-drip. Proceedings EAZA Zoo and Wildlife Health Conference 2023, Valencia, Spain.
Meuffels, J., Luther-Binoir, I., Bertschinger, H., Lueders, I. (2021). Semen collection for cryopreservation in live wild black (Diceros bicornis) and white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum). Proceedings Joint AAZV EAZWV Conference 2021.
Meuffels J, Luther-Binoir I, Lueders I, Bertschinger H. (2019). Conservation through semen collection & cryopreservation in African elephants (L. africana) & rhinoceroses (C.simum simum; D. bicornis). Wildlife Group of the SAVA Annual Congress 2019. 6-8 March 2019.
Hemmersbach Rhino Force 