The last male Northern white Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) died in Kenya on March 19. This species was once widely distributed throughout the African continent, but closer to the middle of the XX century the population numbered just over 2,000 animals. In 2006, poachers have killed the last of the Northern white rhinos living in the wild. By 2015 in the Kenyan reserve survived only three specimens: one male and two females. Due to the fact that the male suffered from severe age-related degenerative diseases, the reserve staff decided to euthanize him.
Rhino by the name Sudan was 45 years, which is quite a venerable age for this species (in the wild rare animals live up to 40 years). In the result of degenerative diseases of animal muscle atrophied and the bones began to crumble. In recent days, the state of Sudan has deteriorated sharply: Rhino couldn’t even stand up and suffered greatly. Reluctantly, the doctors reserve decided to euthanize the animal. But before introducing lethal injection, they collected the genetic material of the animal.
Today, this view is already possible to officially declare extinct, as the remaining in the reserve females, Najin (daughter of Sudan) and the veil (his granddaughter) will not be able to procreate. However, to save the species will be possible using artificial insemination and transplantation of fertilized eggs in the body of the female southern white Rhino. Poachers, thanks to which the species was on the verge of extinction, killed animals for their horns, which is considered curative in many African cultures and highly prized on the black market.
Died last male Northern white Rhino
Sergey Grey