a closely guarded northern white rhinoceros

The Last Northern White Rhinoceros: A Closer Look at Extinction

The northern white rhinoceros, once thriving in its natural habitat, has sadly become functionally extinct. The last male of the subspecies, Sudan, passed away in 2018 at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. This devastating loss marks a significant turning point in the conservation efforts to protect this magnificent species.

For years, two surviving northern white rhinoceroses have lived under constant protection from poachers on a closely guarded reserve in Kenya's Laikipia region. Unfortunately, both are females, and there is no hope of them breeding. The absence of wild northern white rhinos has been confirmed, despite persistent reports of their survival in small numbers in South Sudan.

The sad history of the northern white rhino can be traced back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. During this period, massive poaching for rhino horn and ivory occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Garamba National Park, which is home to a different sub-species of white rhino. The park was also affected by conflicts in the DRC, insurgencies from neighboring Sudan, and incursions by the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army rebels.

In a recent effort to restore white rhinos to their former range, African Parks has relocated southern white rhinoceroses from private reserves in South Africa to Garamba National Park. This move is seen as a significant step forward in conservation efforts. The Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) and Canadian mining company Barrick Gold have collaborated on this project, with the latter funding the relocation.

The reintroduction process was carried out by African Parks, which has managed Garamba since 2005. Sixteen southern white rhinoceroses were relocated to the park from private reserves in South Africa, where over 5,000 rhinos reside on more than 150 private ranches or reserves. This move marks the start of a process aimed at fulfilling the role of the northern white rhino in the landscape.

The reintroduction is seen as a testament to the commitment of the Congolese government to biodiversity conservation. According to Yves Milan Ngangay, head of the ICCN, 'This release and future relocations are a big step forward to restoring white rhinos to the core of their former range – albeit a different sub-species.'

As we reflect on the extinction of the northern white rhino, it is essential to acknowledge that conservation efforts 20 years ago were deemed 'too little, too late.' African Parks' CEO, Peter Fearnhead, lamented the loss of this species, stating, 'This reintroduction is the start of a process whereby southern white rhinos as the closest genetic alternative can fulfill the role of the northern white rhino in the landscape.'

The story of the northern white rhinoceros serves as a stark reminder of the importance of conservation efforts and the devastating impact of poaching on endangered species. As we look to the future, it is crucial that we continue to support initiatives aimed at protecting and preserving our planet's biodiversity.

A closely guarded northern white rhinoceros