The last male northern white rhino died of age-related complications. With no male rhinos left for reproduction, the future of the northern white rhino is bleak.
On March 19, the last male northern white rhino was euthanized at his home at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Sudan, who lived to 45, died of age-related complications. Unfortunately, he was sick for a period of time before his death. While he suffered from normal conditions brought on by old age, a recent infection in his back leg increased health concerns. Conservationists tirelessly worked to alleviate his symptoms, and Sudan fought hard. Unfortunately, it was not enough to save him. This news broke the heart of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, who cared for him for 10 years, as well as wildlife lovers across the world. [caption id="attachment_8012" align="aligncenter" width="560"]
Courtesy of Ol Pejeta Conservancy[/caption]
Ol Pejeta’s CEO states, “We on Ol Pejeta are all saddened by Sudan’s death. He was a great ambassador for his species and will be remembered for the work he did to raise awareness globally of the plight facing not only rhinos, but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unsustainable human activity. One day, his demise will hopefully be seen as a seminal moment for conservationists world wide.”
While Sudan lived at the conservancy, he was under protection by 24/7 armed guards. Rhino populations have been decimated by poaching, leading to Sudan’s tough security. According to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, 1,028 rhinos were poached in South Africa in 2017 alone. Rhinos are poached for their horns and skin, which are then trafficked into the wildlife trade market.
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Courtesy of The Guardian[/caption]
Northern white rhino populations have suffered especially. In 2008 the northern white rhino was deemed extinct in the wild, and the next year the last four remaining rhinos were transferred from the Czech zoo to Ol Pejeta. Now the death of the last male northern white rhino leaves the species in peril.
The African Wildlife Foundation states, “Insane demand for rhino horn has driven the northern white rhino to the brink of extinction. And now Sudan, the last male has died. There are only two females remaining and scientists are left to save the species from extinction through artificial means. It should never have come to this. Our job is a lot tougher now.”
While this news is devastating, there is a glimmer of hope for northern white rhinos. Conservationists have saved sperm from Sudan in preparation for his death. Conservationists plan to use a southern white rhino, another subspecies of rhino, as a surrogate to carry a northern white rhino embryo. In vitro fertilization will be used to create the embryo with an egg from one of the only two female northern white rhinos in the world. The chances of this procedure being successful are unknown because it is a radically new idea.
Let’s hope the IVF is successful or else our world will have to say goodbye to another beloved species.
What do you think? Should we be working harder to protect endangered species? Weigh in below!
***This article was originally written for Our Community Now -- Washington, D.C., by Brianna Grant.