Last male northern white rhino dies, spelling probable extinction for the species

JOHANNESBURG – Sudan, the last male northern white rhinoceros, died in Kenya, officials announced Tuesday, spelling almost certain extinction for one of Africa’s iconic species.

Sudan’s death leaves only two female rhinos of the species, Fatu and Najin, neither capable of natural reproduction, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, where Sudan lived out his final years.

The three rhinos were sent to Kenya in 2009 from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic in the hope they would reproduce.

Hopes rose in 2012 when two of the rhinos at Ol Pejeta mated, but the cow did not become pregnant. Breeding efforts since have failed, with neither of the surviving females capable of natural reproduction.

The best chance for bringing the species back from the edge of extinction is in-vitro fertilization using eggs from the surviving females, stored semen from dead males and a surrogate female rhino from another subspecies such as the southern white rhino, according to Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Rhinos have been in danger for decades because of poaching by criminal syndicates Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, feeds himself inside an enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, Kenya, in 2015. Sudan has died.

for rhino horn, sold illegally mainly in China and Vietnam.

The range of the northern white rhino was in central Africa, including Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, where myriad militias often rely on income from illegal trafficking of minerals, wildlife products and timber.

The western black rhino, last seen in northern Cameroon, was declared extinct in 2006 after a survey of rhino populations in Africa. The International Union for the Conservation

of Nature warned at the time that the world was on the brink of losing the northern white rhino, with only four surviving in Garamba National Park. By 2008, the species was considered extinct in the wild.

Sudan was 45 years old and could no longer stand up. He had been treated for age-related degeneration of muscles and bones, as well as extensive skin wounds, according to a joint statement from Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Dvur Kralove Zoo.

The decision to euthanize Sudan was made Tuesday

by a veterinary team from the zoo, the conservancy and Kenya Wildlife Service.

“During his final years, Sudan came back to Africa and stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength,” the statement said. “His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal.”

Ol Pejeta Chief Executive Richard Vigne hoped Sudan’s death would focus global attention on the need to preserve species from extinction.

Rockets fired on a market in a government-controlled neighborhood of Damascus on Tuesday killed 35 people and wounded more than 20 others, Syrian state-run media said, marking one of the highest death tolls in a single attack targeting the capital.

The government blamed rebels in the eastern suburbs of Damascus for the attack on the Kashkol neighborhood. The capital, seat of President Bashar Assad’s power, has come under increasing attack as government forces continue to pound rebel-held eastern Ghouta, with military backing from Russia.

With government forces tied up in the monthlong offensive on eastern Ghouta, Islamic State militants seized a neighborhood on its southern edge, forcing the government to rush in reinforcements.

IS militants captured the neighborhood of Qadam late Monday, a week after rebels had surrendered it

Call him Sir Ringo now, or Sir Richard to be more precise. Either way, it’s a fitting honor for the former Beatles drummer, who has waited decades for the recognition.

The 77-year-old Ringo Starr received his longawaited knighthood from Prince William Tuesday. He used his real name Richard Starkey for the big event.

He said the honor “means a lot”. It comes more than half a century after the youthful Beatles first went to Buckingham Palace to receive MBE awards.

The other surviving Beatle, Paul Mccartney, was knighted in 1997.

“I had dinner with him last week and we were both actually laughing about where we came from, and we’ve ended up in the palace and it’s now Sir Paul and Sir Richard,” said Starr.

– Appeal-democrat news services