Sudan was a captive Northern White Rhinoceros at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya. He was #lastmanstanding, the last of his kind. He passed away from age related complications in March 2018 leaving 2 female northern white rhinos, the last remaining of the species in the world, his daughters Najin and Fatu. Both sadly unable to breed. Poaching is the main cause of the decline and disappearance of rhinos from the wild. The northern white rhino which once roamed Africa in its thousands, is now in effect extinct.
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Named after the country where he was captured at the age of two in 1975, Sudan was taken to live his most of life on the concrete floors of a Czech zoo. He came back to Africa in 2009 to @olPejeta for his final years, and has stolen the hearts of many – @leonardodicaprio and @elizabethhurley1 😉
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Sudan leaves us with his genetic material which scientists will use to try to keep the species alive, and his legacy of dignity and strength. I am so very lucky to have met and photographed this great ambassador for his species. We must remember him for the work he did to raise awareness globally of the plight facing not only rhinos, but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unsustainable human activity.
Assignment for Barcroft Media. Published in Daily Mail, Telelgraph and many more.
