Sudan, the face of our Swedish campaign ”Adjö” is on death watch. Sudan is the last male northern white rhino left on the planet and he is very sick. Together with the females Fatu and Najin, Sudan has lived at Ol Pejeta Concervancy in Kenya since 2009. These three rhinos are the last of their kind and hopes were that they would reproduce, unfortunately all efforts have so far failed. The fate of the subspecies rests on Sudan’s ability to conceive with the two rhinos and with him being gravely ill, the fear is rising that the subspecies is closer than ever to extinction.
At the advanced age of 45, his health has begun deteriorating, and his future is not looking bright. Ol Pejeta Conservancy wrote in a statement earlier this week.
At the end on 2017 Sudan’s caretakers found a sore at the back of his right leg and they feared the worst.
Sudan developed an uncomfortable age-related infection on his back right leg. He resumed normal movement and foraging habits over January up to mid-February, with his demeanor and general activity improving significantly.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy hoped that Sudan would fully recover, but then a second infection was discovered.
Recently, a secondary and much deeper infection was discovered beneath the initial one. This has been treated, but worryingly, the infection is taking longer to recover, despite the best efforts of his team of vets who are giving him 24 hour care, with everything possible being done to help him regain his health.
Efforts have been limitless from the guardians of Sudan to raise awareness about conservancy. Early 2017 Sudan “joined” the dating app tinder in hopes of raising money for on-going research for Assisted Reproductive techniques (ART). The hope was, and still is that with this technique perfected, especially virto fertilization, it would aid to achieve successful pregnancies to build up a viable herd of northern white rhinos. Read more here.
Our thoughts are with Sudan and his caretakers, keep fighting we are with you all the way!
<3 Team Wildhood
Thank you to Conservation Photographer Tom Svensson for his beautiful photography.