Sudan (rhinoceros)

A group of six northern white rhinoceros, including the two-year-old Sudan, were captured in Shambe, South Sudan by animal trappers employed by Chipperfield's Circus in February 1975Joe Shute (2017) [https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/94069722/meet-sudan-the-last-surviving-male-northern-white-rhino "Meet Sudan, the last surviving male northern white rhino"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320232023/https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/94069722/meet-sudan-the-last-surviving-male-northern-white-rhino |date=20 March 2018 }} Stuff.co.nz, 26 June 2017. Accessed 20 March 2018. working under an agreement with Josef Vágner, the then-director of the Dvůr Králové Zoo in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic).https://www.euro.cz/blogy/sudan-politicka-ekonomie-jednoho-zivocisneho-druhu-1399199 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232243/https://www.euro.cz/blogy/sudan-politicka-ekonomie-jednoho-zivocisneho-druhu-1399199 |date=25 March 2018 }} Sudan: Political economy of one biological species – in Czech The captured group comprised two males (Sudan and Saut) and four females (Nola, Nuri, Nadi and Nesari).

The number of northern white rhinos was already considered to be only around 700 animals in the wild. For many environmentalists, leaving the animals in nature was the only acceptable way of preserving the already rare subspecies. The Dvůr Králové Zoo and their Chipperfield partners were then criticized for the capture. The zoo was specializing in African fauna and already had the largest collection outside of Africa.

In 1975 the group, including Sudan, was shipped to the Dvůr Králové Zoo for their northern white rhinoceros display. The zoo was the only one in the world where northern white rhinos had successfully given birth, with the last calf being born in 2000.{{cite web |url= http://radio.cz/en/section/panorama/dvur-kralove-zoo-spearheading-international-efforts-to-save-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction |title= Dvůr Králové Zoo spearheading international efforts to save northern white rhino from extinction |first= Daniela |last= Lazarová |publisher= Radio Prague |date= 25 September 2014 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140926091952/http://radio.cz/en/section/panorama/dvur-kralove-zoo-spearheading-international-efforts-to-save-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction |archivedate= 26 September 2014 |url-status= live }}

Two years later they were joined by Nasima, who originated from Uganda but came from Knowsley Safari Park{{Cite web |url=http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/121/1216651198.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 March 2018 |archive-date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705125849/http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/121/1216651198.pdf |url-status=live }} near Prescot, England, and Saut was later lent to San Diego Zoo in the United States.[http://www.rozhlas.cz/priroda/porady/_zprava/6225 Czech Radio: The Millennium Calf – Road to Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324082813/http://www.rozhlas.cz/priroda/porady/_zprava/6225 |date=24 March 2018 }} – in Czech

After 1980, the northern white rhinos were wiped out in Uganda and Sudan, and 13 were left in Garamba National Park in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of the IUCN met in 1986 in Dvůr Králové Zoo to discuss ways to preserve the dwindling number of northern white rhinos. The efforts to save the subspecies included the import of Ben (an older male from London) in 1986 and the return of Saut (a calf from the original 1975 group) from San Diego Zoo in 1998 to Dvůr Králové Zoo. Attempts to join the group with several southern rhinos met only with mixed success. Several surgeries were performed on the females and their eggs; genetic material, including Sudan's semen, was preserved.[http://www.rozhlas.cz/priroda/porady/_zprava/6225 Czech Radio: The Millennium Calf –Road to Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324082813/http://www.rozhlas.cz/priroda/porady/_zprava/6225 |date=24 March 2018 }} – in Czech

File:Ceratotherium simum cottoni -Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya.jpg

Sudan fathered three calves in the Czech Republic and became the grandfather of one. Sudan fathered Nabire (dam: Nasima, studbook number 0351), who was born on 15 November 1983,Raymond Johnston [https://www.praguepost.com/the-big-story/49043-and-then-there-were-four "And then there were four: Northern white rhino dies in zoo"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110095519/https://www.praguepost.com/the-big-story/49043-and-then-there-were-four |date=10 November 2017 }} Prague Post, 28 July 2015. Accessed 20 March 2018. and died at Dvůr Králové Zoo in July 2015.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/nejnovejsi-videa/318519-udalosti-ct-ve-dvore-kralove-oplakavaji-nabire/|title = Události ČT: Ve Dvoře Králové oplakávají Nabiré|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = CT24|last = |first = |language = Czech}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was also the father of Najin, who was transported to Ol Pejeta Conservancy along with him in 2009. Najin was born in 1989, again with the dam being Nasima. Sudan also sired one other offspring besides Nabire and Najin. The third calf was born prematurely and died.{{cite news|title=Last Chance to Survive: Northern White Rhino Conservation Project|url=http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/sites/default/files/NWR_FAQ_FINAL.pdf|accessdate=7 December 2014|publisher=Ol Pejeta Conservancy|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103184657/http://olpejetaconservancy.org/sites/default/files/NWR_FAQ_FINAL.pdf|archivedate=3 January 2012}} Sudan was the grandfather of Fatu through his daughter Najin.{{cite news|title=Northern White Rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum cottoni|url=http://www.redorbit.com/education/reference_library/animal_kingdom/mammalia/1113119301/northern-white-rhinoceros-ceratotherium-simum-cottoni/|accessdate=7 December 2014|publisher=Redorbit|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110180128/http://www.redorbit.com/education/reference_library/animal_kingdom/mammalia/1113119301/northern-white-rhinoceros-ceratotherium-simum-cottoni/|archivedate=10 January 2015}} For breeding, Sudan's studbook number was 0372.{{cite web|url=http://www2.rozhlas.cz/mlade/portal/vt000411b.htm|title=Severní bílí nosorožci v zajetí|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112201035/http://www2.rozhlas.cz/mlade/portal/vt000411b.htm|archivedate=12 November 2005}}

The second-to-last male northern white rhinoceros in the world was Angalifu, who lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with Nola until his death on 14 December 2014.Stephanie Pappas [https://www.livescience.com/60908-story-behind-lonely-rhino-photo.html "The Story Behind That Viral Photo of a Lonely Rhino"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117100630/https://www.livescience.com/60908-story-behind-lonely-rhino-photo.html |date=17 January 2018 }} LiveScience, 10 November 2017. Accessed 20 March 2018. Angalifu was beyond breeding age, leaving Sudan as the only fertile male in the world even when Angalifu was alive.{{cite news|last1=Boehrer|first1=Katherine|title=Only Six Northern White Rhinos Left In The World After Death At Wildlife Sanctuary|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/suni-white-rhino_n_6014426.html|accessdate=7 December 2014|publisher=Huffington Post|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222164752/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/suni-white-rhino_n_6014426.html|archivedate=22 December 2014}}

In June 2008 specialists met in the Dvůr Králové Zoo to decide further steps to save the subspecies. The meeting of the Czech Zoo with IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG), World Zoo and Aquarium Association WAZA, Berlin institute IZW as well as experts from Vienna Veterinary institute and the European Zoo and Aquarium Association EAZA recommended to move Sudan and his group from the Czech Republic to Africa. Substantial debate succeeded and strong objections were raised against this proposal, especially given the fact that expert and scientific organizations were available in Europe and insemination efforts could have continued in the Czech Republic.{{Cite web |url=https://ekolist.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/zpravy/nosorozci-na-hrane-zaniku-zoo-dvur-kralove-chce-svoje-nejvzacnejsi-zvirata-prevezt-do-afriky |title=Nosorožci na hraně zániku - Zoo Dvůr Králové chce svoje nejvzácnější zvířata převézt do Afriky |date=7 October 2008 |access-date=24 March 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075651/https://ekolist.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/zpravy/nosorozci-na-hrane-zaniku-zoo-dvur-kralove-chce-svoje-nejvzacnejsi-zvirata-prevezt-do-afriky |url-status=live }}

File:Can Science Save a Rhino on Brink of Extinction.webm report about the last three individuals]]

In December 2009 the rhinos were moved to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy for a "Last Chance To Survive" breeding program, along with three other northern white rhinoceroses. It was hoped that Ol Pejeta would provide a more natural habitat and better hormonal balance for the animals to induce breeding.{{cite news|last1=Moshiri|first1=Nazanine|title=Meeting the Northern white rhinos|url=http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/africa/meeting-northern-white-rhinos|accessdate=7 December 2014|publisher=Aljazeera|date=4 January 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416012020/http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/africa/meeting-northern-white-rhinos|archivedate=16 April 2015}} However, breeding attempts with Sudan at Ol Pejeta Conservancy were unsuccessful.{{cite news|last1=Catterick|first1=Ally|title=Ol Pejeta Conservancy extends breeding plan for the northern white rhinoceros|url=http://phys.org/news/2014-01-ol-pejeta-northern-white-rhinoceros.html|accessdate=7 December 2014|publisher=Phys Org|date=9 January 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522022849/http://phys.org/news/2014-01-ol-pejeta-northern-white-rhinoceros.html|archivedate=22 May 2015}}

One of the other three rhinos transported in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Suni, died in 2014.Gap, Frontier. (27 October 2014) [https://www.thedodo.com/community/FrontierGap/death-of-a-conservation-icon-784793327.html The Death Of Suni, A Rhino Conservation Icon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185256/https://www.thedodo.com/community/FrontierGap/death-of-a-conservation-icon-784793327.html |date=4 March 2016 }}. Thedodo.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015. Sudan then lived the final years of his life with his daughter Najin and granddaughter Fatu.

Northern white rhinoceroses are guarded 24 hours a day at the conservancy to protect them from poaching, which is a major problem for rhinoceroses. The protection includes horn-embedded transmitters, watchtowers, fences, drones, guard dogs, and trained armed guards around the clock.{{cite news|title=Last Chance to Survive – Northern White Rhino Conservation Project|url=http://www.zoodvurkralove.cz/content/image.php?uid=528e2c5e8e7fd|accessdate=7 December 2014|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024083005/http://www.zoodvurkralove.cz/content/image.php?uid=528e2c5e8e7fd|archivedate=24 October 2014}}

At the end of 2017, Sudan suffered from an infection in his right hind leg. Although his condition improved in subsequent months, the infection returned, and, in March 2018, his state seriously deteriorated, despite intensive care.{{cite web |url=https://hradec.idnes.cz/vazny-stav-nosorozec-sudan-dvur-kralove-ol-pejeta-fsx-/hradec-zpravy.aspx?c=A180301_110137_hradec-zpravy_the |title=Poslední samec severního bílého nosorožce na světě je ve vážném stavu |work=iDNES.cz |date=1 March 2018 |access-date=20 March 2018 |publisher=MAFRA, a. s. |editor-last=Plesl |editor-first=Jaroslav |archive-date=1 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225407/https://hradec.idnes.cz/vazny-stav-nosorozec-sudan-dvur-kralove-ol-pejeta-fsx-/hradec-zpravy.aspx?c=A180301_110137_hradec-zpravy_the |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |first=Christopher |last=Torchia |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/scientists-hope-to-save-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction/2018/03/06/5fc1c270-211e-11e8-946c-9420060cb7bd_story.html |title=Scientists hope to save northern white rhino from extinction |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306111902/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/scientists-hope-to-save-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction/2018/03/06/5fc1c270-211e-11e8-946c-9420060cb7bd_story.html |archive-date=6 March 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=20 March 2018 |editor-last=Baron |editor-first=Martin |editor-link=Martin Baron |issn=0190-8286 |url-status=dead |oclc=2269358}} In the final years of his life, Sudan was protected by armed guards around the clock. He was euthanized on 19 March 2018, after suffering from "age-related complications."

In the weeks before Sudan's death, Richard Vigne, CEO of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, stated that "Sudan has been technically infertile for many years, so him dying is not going to affect the possibilities of recovery for the northern white rhino as a species."

The skin-mount of Sudan and the skeleton of Nabire were on display in the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic until the end of 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.idnes.cz/praha/zpravy/nosorozec-bily-sudan-narodni-muzeum-dvur-kralove.A211104_082329_praha-zpravy_rsr|title=Národní muzeum vystavuje bílého nosorožce Sudána, stále může zachránit druh|date=5 November 2021}}

After the death of Sudan, Dvůr Králové Zoo spokesman Jan Stejskal declared that "We must take advantage of the unique situation in which cellular technologies are utilized for conservation of critically endangered species. It may sound unbelievable, but thanks to the newly developed techniques even Sudan could still have an offspring."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43468066 |date=20 March 2018 |title=Northern white rhino: Last male Sudan dies in Kenya |work=BBC |access-date=December 20, 2020 |archive-date=23 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723141440/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43468066 |url-status=live }}

There are now ongoing attempts at in vitro fertilization of eggs from Najin and Fatu with semen from Sudan and to implant the resulting blastocysts in suitable female southern white rhinos.Natural World – Sudan – The Last of the Rhinos, 9–10 pm Wednesday 28 June 2017, BBC TV2 In total, eggs from two females and semen from five males are now available for the subspecies' possible future resurrection.{{cite web |url=https://www.livescience.com/61979-should-northern-white-rhino-be-saved.html |last=Pappas |first=Stephanie |date=9 March 2020 |title=Can (and Should) the Northern White Rhino Be Saved? |work=Live Science |access-date=December 20, 2020 |archive-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325045220/https://www.livescience.com/61979-should-northern-white-rhino-be-saved.html |url-status=live }} The team in charge produced three embryos in 2019, which are currently kept in the laboratory. Since the two remaining female northern white rhinoceros are not suitable for carrying a pregnancy, they plan to implant the embryo into southern white rhino surrogates.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52228181 |last=Spencer |first=Clare |date=13 April 2020 |title=Northern white rhinos: The audacious plan that could save a species |work=BBC |access-date=December 20, 2020 |archive-date=21 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221034931/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52228181 |url-status=live }}

In February 2015, Ol Pejeta Conservancy launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the rangers guarding the rhinos.{{cite news|last1=Rhino|first1=Support|title=Celebs to rhinos rescue|url=https://news.yahoo.com/celebrities-head-africa-help-save-worlds-last-male-155246044.html|access-date=25 May 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524233819/http://news.yahoo.com/celebrities-head-africa-help-save-worlds-last-male-155246044.html|archive-date=24 May 2015}} In May 2015, after contacting Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Dubai-based Pakistani entrepreneurs Hamid Hussain and Muhammad Yaqoob started a global campaign to create awareness and bring people to Ol Pejeta Conservancy to help in generating revenues for the IVF treatments and other forms of assisted reproduction by inviting celebrities to visit the conservancy. Among the celebrities who visited Sudan were actors Nargis Fakhri and Khaled Abol Naga.Ol Pejeta Conservancy (2015) [https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/khaled-abol-naga-and-nargis-fakhri-stand-with-sudan/ "Khaled Abol Naga and Nargis Fakhri Stand with Sudan"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705064153/http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/khaled-abol-naga-and-nargis-fakhri-stand-with-sudan/ |date=5 July 2016 }} Accessed 20 March 2018.[https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150525/entertainment-bollywood/article/nargis-fakhri-campaigns-last-white-rhino-sudan-kenya "Nargis Fakhri campaigns for the last white Rhino Sudan in Kenya"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527212910/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150525/entertainment-bollywood/article/nargis-fakhri-campaigns-last-white-rhino-sudan-kenya |date=27 May 2015 }} Deccan Chronicle, 25 May 2015. Accessed 20 March 2018.

In 2017, Ol Pejeta Conservancy teamed up with Tinder and Ogilvy Africa to launch a fundraising campaign in order to recover the species. They created a Tinder account for Sudan, the last standing male of northern white rhinos, and the app's users could swipe right to make their donations for the development of breeding methods.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/worlds-last-white-rhino-male-sudan-joins-tinder-to-save-species/|title=World's last male white rhino joins Tinder|access-date=28 April 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426142754/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/worlds-last-white-rhino-male-sudan-joins-tinder-to-save-species/|archive-date=26 April 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Page|first1=Thomas|title=Last male northern white rhino joins Tinder|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/africa/sudan-last-male-northern-white-rhino-tinder/index.html|access-date=7 November 2017|work=CNN|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107222319/http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/africa/sudan-last-male-northern-white-rhino-tinder/index.html|archive-date=7 November 2017}}

On 20 December 2020, Google showed a Doodle on its homepage in remembrance of Sudan.Sources:

• {{cite web |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/remembering-sudan-the-last-male-northern-white-rhino/ |date=December 20, 2020 |title=Remembering Sudan, the Last Male Northern White Rhino |work=Google |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=19 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219120854/http://www.google.com/doodles/remembering-sudan-the-last-male-northern-white-rhino |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxVNpkA4QW0 |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Sudan, the Last Male Northern White Rhino - Google Doodle for remembering Sudan |work=Rajamanickam Antonimuthu |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=20 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220054800/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxVNpkA4QW0 |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/us/google-remembers-last-male-white-rhino-trnd-scn/index.html |last=Johnson |first=Lauren M. |date=December 20, 2020 |title=Google Doodle pays tribute to the last male northern white rhino |work=CNN |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=21 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221051254/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/us/google-remembers-last-male-white-rhino-trnd-scn/index.html |url-status=live }}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sudan (rhinoceros)}}

{{Wikinews|Kenyan conservancy euthanises last male northern white rhino; only two females remain}}

• [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/this-may-be-the-last-photo-post-about-the-last-male-northern-white-rhino_us_5a9db6e2e4b0479c02561fda This May Be The Last Photo Post About The Last Male Northern White Rhino]. The Huffington Post. 5 March 2018.
• [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/20/last-male-northern-white-rhinos-death-highlights-huge-extinction-crisis Last male northern white rhino's death highlights 'huge extinction crisis']. The Guardian. 20 March 2018.

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