Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhino, age 45, died at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on March 19th, 2018 (yesterday).
Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that led to degenerative changes in muscles and bones combined with extensive skin wounds. His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal.
A Fighter All Through
Sudan will be remembered for his unusually memorable life. In the 1970s, he escaped extinction of his kind in the wild when he was moved to Dvůr Králové Zoo. Throughout his existence, he significantly contributed to survival of his species as he sired two females.
During his final years, Sudan came back to Africa and stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength.
The Most Eligible Bachelor Campaign
His plight as the last 3 of a critically endangered species was brought to light through a partnership with Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the world’s leading social app for meeting new people, Tinder.
Last year, Ogilvy Africa in partnership with Tinder, came up with the incredible campaign: The Most Eligible Bachelor Campaign.
The idea was to find Sudan love through donations to fund the required research into Artificial Reproductive Techniques like IVF that are needed to enable him to breed through one of 7,000 Southern White Rhino surrogates. The aim is to give the critically endangered specifies a chance at survival.
Through this campaign, Tinder users were asked to ‘Swipe Right’, leading them to a donation page, with the proceeds going towards scientific efforts to regenerate the species through IVF (in-vitro fertilization) techniques.
Through a statement on Twitter, Ol Pejeta stated that his genetic material was collected yesterday and provides a hope for future attempts at reproduction of northern white rhinos through advanced cellular technologies.
Even as the world mourns this great fallen hero, we hope that efforts in raising awareness globally for the plight that faces not only rhinos but thousands of other species facing extinction continue.
