The world’s last male northern white rhinoceros, named Sudan, died in Kenya, leaving only two females of his species alive. One is his 27-year-old offspring, Najin, and the other is her 17-year-old offspring, Fatu, according to a statement from Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where Sudan lived.
The conservancy said that the 45-year-old rhino, which was suffering from muscle and bone deterioration, as well as extensive skin wounds, died on Monday after age-related complications.
“It is with great sadness that Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Dvůr Králové Zoo announce that Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhino, age 45, died at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on 19 March 2018,” said the conservancy.
The death of Sudan “stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength,” said the conservancy.
In late February and early March, the rhino spent two weeks lying in his pen because of difficulties in moving due to a deep wound on its right hind leg, according to the conservancy’s statement.
All attempts to make him mate naturally with any of the two females had failed. This made conservationists put Sudan on the Tinder dating app last year in order to collect the amount of money necessary to pay for a $9m fertility treatment.
