Is it the End of the Line for the Northern White Rhinoceros?

Sudan at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in May 2017

The world's last male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan, recently breathed life's last breath and has now vanished into history, bringing the subspecies one step closer to extinction. According to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Sudan's health had been declining lately after a severe leg infection and his condition became worse to the point that he could no longer stand up. This led to the veterinary team to ultimately put him to sleep. Sudan was captured in the country of the same name when he was two years old in 1975 and was transported to Czech Republic's Dvur Kralove Zoo. However, when the zoo started facing financial problems and its rhinos failed to breed, Sudan was relocated to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in 2009, where he had been living ever since. His caretaker, Joseph Thaida, described him as an affectionate and gentle giant who would have his picture taken with tourists and served as a focal point of publicity stunts. The most well-known was when Sudan got his Tinder profile last year to bring attention to the situation of the northern white rhinoceros and to address donations to the conservancy for research on assisted reproductive technologies for the animals. Even though he lived at the conservancy for so many years, Sudan had never reproduced and neither did two females named Fatu and Najin. It is said that one of the females is sterile while another is not physically able to carry a calf to full term. However, according to veterinarian Dr. Steve Ngulu, he and his team were able to collect some sperm from Sudan and other male rhinos. He further added that the only option to have a genuine northern white rhino calf is transvaginal oocyte retrieval. This means that fertilized eggs would be collected from the two females and inserted in a female southern white rhino, who would then carry the calf.

Sudan grazing

Although I'm heartbroken to see that Sudan has passed away after suffering for so long, I don't believe that it is the end of the line for the northern white rhinoceros. In fact, I firmly believe that it is now extremely crucial to take strong and efficient efforts to save the northern white rhino from being completely wiped out from the face of the Earth. This means collecting fertilized eggs from the two female northern white rhinos and implanting them in female southern white rhinos, so that they can carry the next generation of northern white rhinos. I am fully aware that there is a chance the two females could die and thus result in the northern white rhino to become extinct, but to save a species or subspecies from becoming extinct, you have to take that risk. The good news is that female southern white rhinos will carry and ultimately give birth to pure northern white rhinos. These females would act as surrogate mothers to the new generation until they become old enough to take care of themselves and most importantly, have babies of their own. This would help bring the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction. In addition, I also believe it is essential to take strong action against militant groups that are operating or are suspected of operating in the northern white rhino's former homeland, which includes the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Sudan, and Uganda. These bloodthirsty terrorists are known to finance from the poaching of rhinos' horns and elephant ivory to carry out their crimes against humanity. Therefore, it is highly essential to combat these monsters in order to save rhinos, elephants, and people.

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