Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino has passed away.
on 19th March 2018 Sudan took his last breath, following age-related complications. These complications caused both degenerative changes in his muscles and bones, combined with extensive skin wounds.
Helping Rhinos stated “His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and seemed to be suffering a great deal. The veterinary team from the Dvůr Králové Zoo, Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him.”
The Northern White Rhino is a sub species that we have literally witnessed the extinction of. Sudan was one of only three known northern white rhinos left in the world; the remaining two females are his daughter, Najin and granddaughter, Fatu.
I spoke to Simon Jones, Helping Rhinos, CEO who said: “Losing Sudan is of course tragic, not so much for Sudan himself, he was an old man and had lived a good life, but his death represents the loss of the last male of an iconic species. It is humans that have caused such a demise of the northern white rhinos, and it is humans that can ensure we create a legacy that Sudan would be proud of. Let us make sure this is the last time we bid farewell to the last of a species”
With this sad news, we must remember that he had a death denied to so many rhinos — at the age of 45, he died of old age. Safe and dignified.
He did not have his horn hacked from his face.
He did not die in a pool of his own blood, butchered by poachers for a lump of keratin.
He was old and loved and noticed.
Let’s make a future where all rhinos count.
A bittersweet end.
So true, we should never have let this sub species disappear!
God bless you, sweet friend,rest in peace ,i hope your children live on.
Thanks Pauline, such a lovely tribute.