In 2018, Sudan, the last known male northern white rhino born in the wild on earth, passed away at the age of 45. The northern white rhino species is theoretically on the verge of extinction.
The North African white rhinoceros is a subspecies of white rhinoceros . The body length is 300-350 cm, the tail length is 55-65 cm, the shoulder height is 140-170 cm, and the weight is 1400-1600 kg. The body is round and thick, the skin is smooth, about 2-3 cm thick, and only the ears and tail are hairy. The head is extremely long, about 120 cm, and the eyes are small and grow on both sides of the head. The tube-shaped ears can rotate and provide more sensitive hearing. The upper lip of the mouth is flat, wide and square, so it is called broad-nosed rhinoceros and square-nosed rhinoceros . The body surface is gray and slightly whitish. Its shoulders are formed by well-developed medullary spines, forming a raised acromion and . The medullary spines are connected to ligaments to support the head. The limbs are thick and powerful, and both the front and rear limbs have three toes.
is herbivorous and also eats oatmeal, granular feed, alfalfa pellets, and green pasture. Mainly active in the evening, night and early morning, resting in dense jungle or grass during the day. White rhinoceros has poor eyesight and relies mainly on hearing and smell. It can run at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
The only two remaining North African white rhinos are guarded 24 hours a day by heavily armed police. The species is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
In 2018, Sudan, the last male northern white rhinoceros known to have been born in the wild, passed away. The northern white rhino species has theoretically become extinct.
White rhinoceros body length is 300-350 cm, tail length is 55-65 cm, shoulder height is 140-170 cm, and weight is 1400-1600 kg. The body is round and thick, with smooth skin, about 2-3 cm thick. Only the ears and tail end have hair, and there are no large pleats or wrinkles on the armor. The head is very long, about 120 cm. The eyes are very small, and they are on both sides of the head. When observing objects, first stare with one eye, and then look with the other eye. The tube-shaped ears can rotate and provide more sensitive hearing. The cheek teeth in the mouth are made of very thick calcareous layer. The upper lip is flat, wide and square, so it is called broad-nosed rhinoceros and square-nosed rhinoceros. Due to the large contact area, eating grass looks like lawn mower .
Although it is called white rhinoceros, its body surface is gray and slightly whitish. Its shoulders are formed by well-developed medullary spines that form a raised acromion. The medullary spines are connected to ligaments to support the head. Its limbs are thick and powerful, and both front and rear limbs have three toes.
Most herbivores have horns on the top of their heads, but rhino horns grow on their noses. The two horns are one big and one small, one behind the other, which looks very interesting. The white rhino's horn is also the longest among all rhinos, with the highest record being 158.7 centimeters. It is as slender as a whip and stands tall. It is extremely special. The front horn is usually longer and slightly bent backward, with a length of 60-90 centimeters. The rear horn is shorter, about 50 centimeters in length. The horns of female animals are longer than those of male animals. Its horns are not bony, but are derivatives of epithelial tissue. They are made of accumulated horny fibers. Therefore, they do not grow on bones, but on the skin. However, they are extremely hard and sharp and serve as weapons for self-defense and offense.
There is a big difference in the gene between the North African white rhinoceros and the South African white rhinoceros. The skull and dentition are morphologically different from those of the southern white rhinoceros.
lives in the African jungle and grasslands. It has a gentle temperament and likes to live in groups. Each group contains 3-5 or 10-20 animals. They grazed in one place and could not move one kilometer in 7-8 hours. The grass they ate was as neat as a lawnmower. White rhinoceros has the habit of defecating in a fixed place. Their broad, flat lips can be used to gnaw grass on the ground like a lawnmower. It is herbivorous and also eats oatmeal, granular feed, alfalfa pellets, and green pasture. They are mainly active in the evening, night and early morning. They rest in dense jungle or grass during the day. The resting place is sometimes several kilometers away from the water source. White rhinos have poor eyesight and rely mainly on hearing and smell. They can run at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
html The 142-year-old Sudan is the only male northern white rhinoceros , and is already an old man among rhinos. Fatu, 15, and Najin, 25, are two female northern white rhinoceroses who are still relatively young. But all three northern white rhinos have lost their ability to reproduce naturally. Although physically healthy, "Sudan is too old to naturally mate with a female white rhinoceros," said George Paul, a veterinarian at the reserve. Moreover, Sudan's sperm count is too low, and the chances of success, whether natural or through artificially assisted reproduction, are low. Although Najin can get pregnant, her hind legs are not strong enough to withstand the heavy pressure of the male northern white rhino during mating.
In the past few years, Sudan had mated with Fatou and Najin, but neither of them became pregnant. According to recent health checks, both female rhinos have regular estrous cycles, but there are no records of pregnancy. If Sudan is unable to reproduce, the northern white rhinoceros will disappear from our world forever.
The sanctuary is also researching various other alternative reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization. Northern white rhinos cannot mate with black rhinos , but they can try to mate with southern white rhinos. Although there is no guarantee that the descendants will be 100% northern white rhinoceros, it is better than extinction. Other countries have achieved embryo transplantation on other rhino species, so this technology is the most promising. Reproductive technology experts from different fields have begun discussions. With the help of artificial reproductive technology, it may be possible to resurrect them in the future.
Illegal hunting between the 1970s and 1980s reduced their numbers from 500 to 15. From the 1990s to 2003, its population recovered to 32 individuals. Research in 2000 found that their numbers were increasing, with a confirmed total of 30 individuals, and possibly an additional six. Since mid-2003, illegal hunting has become rampant again, and their number in the wild has dropped sharply to 5-10 individuals. The five northern white rhinos in Garamba National Park have all died, and they have become extinct from the wild.
In 2009, the four northern white rhinoceros living in the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic became the only hope to save this subspecies. They were sent to the Olpeata Wildlife Sanctuary in Kenya for artificial protection in their former place of origin. However, one of the male rhinoceros named "Suni" died in 2014.
In 2017, under the strict protection of a group of heavily armed rangers, three North African white rhinos were grazing in Ol Pejeta Nature Reserve in Kenya. While rhinos are mostly known as endangered species, the North African white rhinoceros is in a completely different situation. Sudan, Fatou and Najin are the only three remaining North African white rhinos in the world. In order to prevent poaching, in addition to 24-hour guarding by armed rangers, the reserve also placed radio transmitters on the northern white rhino, and sent secret rangers into surrounding communities to collect poaching intelligence. The last surviving male North African white rhino in the world, "Sudan", has had its horns removed and is being guarded 24 hours a day by four heavily armed police officers. This approach is to save this subspecies that is about to become extinct. Fund-raising work is also underway to train and improve ranger equipment.
