The world's first test-tube rhinos could be born from animals at a British safari park after zoologists attempted to revive the endangered creatures through IVF.

Scientists have collected nine eggs from Longleat's three southern white rhinos, who have failed to mate with their only male, and sent them to specialists in Italy.

Critically endangered: An anti-poaching team guards a dehorned northern white rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya in 2011. Credit:Brent Stirton/Supplied

It is part of a project to save the northern white rhino. Only three animals exist in the wild, one male and two females, but they are now too old to breed.

However, scientists believe that it may be possible to take the eggs and sperm from the remaining animals and create an embryo through IVF which could be implanted in a surrogate mother.