In December 2013, the northern white rhino Nabire walks around in her enclosure at a zoo in Dvur Kralove, Czech Republic. Nabire died of a ruptured cyst in July 2015, leaving only a few northern white rhinos left in the world.
In December 2013, the northern white rhino Nabire walks around in her enclosure at a zoo in Dvur Kralove, Czech Republic. Nabire died of a ruptured cyst in July 2015, leaving only a few northern white rhinos left in the world.
CTK/AP
In Kenya, where three of the remaining northern white rhinos live, armed guards prevent poaching.
In Kenya, where three of the remaining northern white rhinos live, armed guards prevent poaching.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images
Sudan was one of three northern white rhinos left worldwide. He <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2018%2F03%2F20%2Fafrica%2Fkenya-northern-white-rhino-dies-whats-next%2Findex.html">died in March</a> 2018.
Sudan was one of three northern white rhinos left worldwide. He died in March 2018.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
As the only male, the fate of the subspecies depended on Sudan. Though he was too old to mate, scientists are hoping to impregnate other females using his sperm.
As the only male, the fate of the subspecies depended on Sudan. Though he was too old to mate, scientists are hoping to impregnate other females using his sperm.
IUCN/Richard Emslie
In addition to round-the-clock security, the conservancy has put radio transmitters on the animals and dispatches incognito rangers into neighboring communities to gather intelligence on poaching.
In addition to round-the-clock security, the conservancy has put radio transmitters on the animals and dispatches incognito rangers into neighboring communities to gather intelligence on poaching.
Courtesy Chris Morrow
Rhinos are targeted by poachers, fueled by the belief in Asia that their horns cure various ailments.
Rhinos are targeted by poachers, fueled by the belief in Asia that their horns cure various ailments.
Beverly Joubert/Rhinos Without Borders
The great white rhino hope

Story highlights

Sudan is the only male northern white rhino left worldwide

Total of 3 northern white rhinos are left worldwide -- Sudan and two females

Experts trying various ways to save the subspecies, including in vitro fertilization

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya CNN  — 

At first glance, Sudan looks like any other northern white rhino: stout and agile, with square lips.

He grazes under the hot sun, his massive head lowered to the ground, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Kenya.

When he’s not napping in his enclosure, he waddles around the sprawling savannah, stopping briefly to drink water from a concrete hole.

But Sudan is not just any rhino. He’s the last known male northern white rhino left in the world.

For an animal on the verge of extinction, the fate of the subspecies rests on his ability to conceive with the two female northern white rhinos at the conservancy.

Sudan and the two female rhinos – Fatu and Najin – are the last three northern white rhinos left in the world.

24-hour security

RESTRICTED ONE TIME USE OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY, KENYA, JULY 2011: A four man anti-poaching team permanently guards Northern White Rhino on Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, 13 July 2011. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is an important “not-for-profit” wildlife conservancy in the Laikipia District of Kenya and the largest sanctuary for black rhinos in East Africa. It is also the home of 4 of the world's remaining 8 Northern White Rhino, the worlds most endangered animal. There has been an increase in poaching incidents on Ol Pejeta recently, in line with a massive worldwide increase in rhino poaching linked to the rise in the Asian middle class. Anti-poaching teams provide close protection to the rhino, with 24 hour observation over all rhino on Ol Pejeta and 24 hour armed guard protection over the 4 Northern White Rhino who are kept in their own Boma area. The team have developed extraordinary relationships with these Rhino, leaning on them, scratching them and displaying tremendous affection towards these most endangered of animals. Each of the men in these teams feels a genuine vocation towards the protection of these animals, something the rhino seem to sense, and this emerges on a daily basis as the men walk with the rhino through their day. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage for National Geographic.)
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Rhino receives armed guards
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Sudan and his female companions live at the conservancy, where experts are scrambling to ensure the subspecies does not go extinct.

The animals are under 24-hour protection by armed guards. Rhinos are targeted by poachers, fueled by the belief in Asia that their horns cure various ailments. Experts say the rhino horn is becoming more lucrative than drugs.

In addition to round-the-clock security, the conservancy has put radio transmitters on the animals and dispatches incognito rangers into neighboring communities to gather intelligence on poaching.

The conservancy is also raising funds to help equip and train rangers who guard the rhinos.

On the verge of extinction

At 42, Sudan is elderly in rhino years. Fatu, 15, is a spring chicken, while Najin is 25.

Though the three northern white rhinos are physiologically healthy, age might be a factor, says George Paul, the deputy veterinarian at the conservancy.

“Sudan is currently old and may not be able to naturally mount and mate with a female,” he says.

In addition, he has a low sperm count, which complicates natural and scientific efforts, experts say.

Najin could conceive, but her hind legs are so weak, she may be unable to support a mounted male.

“There has been recorded mating between different pairs over the last few years, but not conceptions,” Paul says. “Based on a recent health examination conducted, both animals have a regular estrus cycle, but no conception has been recorded.”

And if one is not recorded soon, the beloved animal will go extinct.

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Alternative methods to conceive

In a race against time, international experts are resorting to science to try to sustain the subspecies.

The northern white rhino cannot mate with a black rhino, but there is a chance it could mate with a southern white rhino, Paul says. While southern white rhinos are not endangered – Ol Pejeta has 19 – they are a different subspecies from the northern white rhino genetically. Though the offspring would not be 100% northern white rhino, it would be better than nothing, experts say.

A committee at the conservancy is also looking at various alternative reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization.

“In other countries, success has been achieved with embryo transfer in a different rhino species, thus that, as a technique, can be presupposed to be the most promising,” Paul says. “However, consultations are ongoing amongst different reproductive technique experts on the way forward.”

Bringing rhinos back to Uganda, one calf at a time

Countdown to extinction

The need to preserve the northern white rhino is dire.

“Realistically, we are looking at these animals dying in the next decade or so. But hopefully, using artificial methods of reproduction, we might be able to bring them back in the future,” Paul says. “This might mean that it will happen when the current animals are already deceased, but it could happen.”

The conservancy acquired the northern white rhinos – two males and two females – in 2009 from a zoo in the Czech Republic. Suni, the other male northern white rhino at the conservancy, died last year.

There are no known northern white rhinos left in the wild. A total of three remain in captivity worldwide – all in Kenya,

Sudan, the only male left, is in a company of one.

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