Herman was created in 1990 by Pharming, a Dutch biotech company that hoped his female descendants would produce an antibacterial protein called lactoferrin in their milk. The experiment was abandoned in the mid-1990s, and Herman and his offspring were supposed to be killed under a Dutch law regulating transgenic species. But Herman--who had gained popularity through many media appearances--avoided the abattoir when the government commuted his sentence. Later, Naturalis, a natural history museum in Leiden, agreed to house him starting later this year and make him the centerpiece of a new biotech exhibit.

But last week it seemed that Herman might not live that long. Regulations aimed at preventing the accidental release of transgenic organisms make keeping Herman expensive, and cash-strapped Pharming recently reneged on a promise to continue footing the $40,000 annual tab. Instead, it said, it might put Herman to sleep. That prospect caused a public outcry--and a generous outpouring of financial help. Naturalis says several companies have offered to support Herman in his old age, and a deal is imminent. Among the most serious contenders is Yarden, a company that, for a small monthly fee, sees that its customers get a tasteful burial when the time comes. The company says Herman's rescue would nicely embody its mission: "respect for life and death."

The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals opposes the transfer to Naturalis, however, and wants Herman to spend his remaining years in his familiar Pharming stable. "Herman is not a fairground attraction," says a society spokesperson. "He needs quiet and stability in his life."

--MARTIN ENSERINK