World’s last male northern white rhino dies, aged 45

MAR 21, 2018

The 45-year-old rhino named Sudan was put to sleep on Monday by officials from the nonprofit Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, after it became clear the animal was in extreme pain from age-related health issues and a series of infections.

“Sudan had to be put down because of various complications that are age related. He was suffering from acute arthritis that weakened his limbs,” Samuel Mutisya, head of conservation at Ol Pejeta Conservancy said.

“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,” said Richard Vigne, Ol Pejeta’s CEO.

He was deeply loved by all at Ol Pejeta especially his caregivers who spent every day with him and developed close relationships with him.

Now, only two female northern white rhinos remain at the conservancy—the last of their kind on Earth.

Although this is a tremendous loss, scientists still hope to save the northern white rhino from extinction by in vitro fertilization. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy staff collected Sudan’s genetic material so scientists could attempt reproduction of northern white rhinos in the future.