The rhino shown is Sudan, the last known male Northern White Rhinoceros who died on March 19, 2018, in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Sudan was 45 years old and was euthanized due to age-related complications and a series of infections that severely affected his health.
With Sudan's passing, the Northern White Rhino subspecies (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) became functionally extinct, as only two females (Najin and Fatu, Sudan's daughter and granddaughter) remained. Neither of them can naturally reproduce.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Scientists have been working tirelessly on assisted reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) using stored sperm from Sudan and other deceased males. As of 2023, several embryos have been successfully created and preserved, with hopes of implanting them into surrogate Southern White Rhinos in an effort to resurrect the species.
Sudan was 45 years old and was euthanized due to age-related complications and a series of infections that severely affected his health.
With Sudan's passing, the Northern White Rhino subspecies (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) became functionally extinct, as only two females (Najin and Fatu, Sudan's daughter and granddaughter) remained. Neither of them can naturally reproduce.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Scientists have been working tirelessly on assisted reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) using stored sperm from Sudan and other deceased males. As of 2023, several embryos have been successfully created and preserved, with hopes of implanting them into surrogate Southern White Rhinos in an effort to resurrect the species.
The rhino shown is Sudan, the last known male Northern White Rhinoceros who died on March 19, 2018, in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Sudan was 45 years old and was euthanized due to age-related complications and a series of infections that severely affected his health.
With Sudan's passing, the Northern White Rhino subspecies (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) became functionally extinct, as only two females (Najin and Fatu, Sudan's daughter and granddaughter) remained. Neither of them can naturally reproduce.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Scientists have been working tirelessly on assisted reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) using stored sperm from Sudan and other deceased males. As of 2023, several embryos have been successfully created and preserved, with hopes of implanting them into surrogate Southern White Rhinos in an effort to resurrect the species.
