After months of poor health, the final remaining northern white rhino, Sudan, has died. Sudan was 45 years old and living in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. He was put to sleep on Monday due to health issues stemming from his old age (he was about 90 in human years).
There are only two northern white rhinos left and both are female. This means that the only chance for the species survival is relying on in vitro fertilization.
Jan Stejskal, who worked at Dvur Kralove Zoo, where Sudan lived until 2009, believes that the future of endangered species will rely on alternate techniques of reproducing: “We must take advantage of the unique situation in which cellular technologies are utilised for conservation of critically endangered species.”
