White rhinos are very close to extinction, with only two females left alive and one male rhino. Recently, the male has experienced signs of becoming incredibly ill, which leads people to speculate whether or not the species is about to go extinct, with no male to help bring off-springs to the world.
In an effort to raise funds for this subspecies of rhinos, Sudan, the male rhino, became famous last year for teaming up with Tinder in order to promote him as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. The male northern white rhino is very old for its species at 45 years old. He lives along with the other two female northern white rhinos, named Najin and Fatu, in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
What does the future hold?
A spokeswoman from the Conservancy stated that with Sudan’s health getting worse he won’t probably last much longer until he dies. How did his health decrease? Well, he got an infection due to his age on his right leg sometime last year. This infection was treated and he got back to normal by January. A second infection developed right under the first one and it looks like this one is not responding to treatments. If things get worse they will have to euthanize him.
Poaching effects on almost extinct species
People in Asia believe that rhino horns are able to cure various ailments and this is why rhinos are targeted by poachers. Poachers were so interested in Sudan that he had to be protected from them by guards 24/7. With the species almost extinct, it is no wonder that people are trying to shield the rhinos to the best of their abilities so that they may help the species grow in numbers.
We can only hope that Sudan’s health will improve and that we will not have to see northern white rhino added to the list of extinct species.
