AT THE BRINK.
- Mar 22, 2018
- 4 min read
What does extinction mean?
This refers to the situation in which a species no longer exists on the earth or when the last remaining member of a given species dies.
Scientists believe that we are living during on of earths mass extinction with there being 5 previous mass extinctions this being the 6th one. Over the years the rate of extinction has gradually increased and unless strategies to save endangered animals at the brink of extinction are successful the rate is expected to only get higher.
Here in Kenya we have experienced extinction most recently the death of Sudan, the last northern white rhino in the world.Sudan resided at Ol pejeta conservancy in laikipia County. He had began experiencing age related complications due to his old age. Rhinos usually live to around 35 years and given Sudan was 45 years old the age complications were inevitable. Sudan suffered from deteriorating bones and extensive skin wounds. On march 19th 2018 veterinary doctors at the conservancy decided to euthanize Sudan leaving behind only two northern white rhinos both of whom are females.
Unlike the southern white rhinos, northern white rhinos found in parts of Uganda,Chad,Sudan and DRC have experienced massive poaching leading to a great reduction in their population. The norther white rhino horn is sold by poachers for an estimated 50,000 dollars per kilogram making it even more valuable than gold.
In 2009 , 4 of the last seven northern white rhinos were brought to Kenya from Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. There were two males and two females named Sudan, Suni. Najin and Fatu. They were brought to Kenya which is the native region for the northern rhino and would therefore be able to provide a natural environment to encourage mating between the rhinos since in Czech Republic mating attempts had been futile. The place selected to offer such an environment was a 700 acre enclosure called the "endangered species enclosure" at Ol Pejeta conservancy. By 2012 mating had not been successful so a southern male white rhino was brought to see if it would mate with the females Najin and Fatu, unfortunately it did not work. In 2014 Suni and another male rhino Angalifu from San Diego zoo in the USA passed due to natural causes. In 2015 Dvůr Králové Zoo lost Nabire and later in 2015 San Diedo zoo lost Nola. Now with the passing of Sudan all hope for the species lies in a procedure called in vitro fertilization (IVF). The procedure requires 9 million dollars making it a very costly affair. However, funds are being raised for this procedure.
In the meantime all we can do is keep Najin and Fatu comfortable and safe as they are the last ambassadors of a dying species. Sadly Sudan`s story is that of many species around the world that are also on the verge of extinction leaving us to wonder which species is next to disappear from the face of the earth. Be it a big or small creature extinction of a species affects the ecosystem as a whole. Some animals which have gone extinct in 2017 alone include:
Fishing cat whose habitat was in southeast Asia
fishing cat
On Christmas Island, northwest of Australia, three lizards — Lister's gecko, the blue-tailed skink, Christmas Island forest skink — and a bat are widely presumed to be gone. Exotic, or non-native, species are a likely culprit, but perhaps not the only one.
The Christmas Island pipistrelle, a bat,
lister`s gecko
blue tailed skink
My experience
I have been fortunate enough to visit Ol Pejeta conservancy in October 2017 and though i was not able to see Sudan while he was still alive i managed to meet Baraka a black rhino . Baraka lives in the Morani’senclosure which is 140acres fenced area. Baraka was born in the wild in Ol Pejeta by Carol who later died. Due to the wilds hostility Baraka lost his sight as a result of injuries sustained during fights and the other one due to an eye infection.He now lives in the enclosure located next to the Morani information center for the purpose of his safety since he is also considered as the black rhino’s ambassador.You can view some photos i took of him below.
Observing Baraka from the platform.
Now seeing that extinction of rhinos is a dawning reality conservationists should use the death of Sudan as a motivation to better protect existing species especially those at the brink of extinction.
DONATE IN MEMORY OF SUDAN
Sudan may no longer be with us, but you can help secure his legacy. A donation to support the IVF research will help to ensure that one day in the future, northern white rhinos will once again roam freely in their natural habitat.follow the link to donate
https://www.gofundme.com/makearhino
You can also view a video done on Sudan by NTV wild talk in 2017 below
Join me in my next post as i take a look at the gentle giants of the African Savannah, the giraffe. And why you should be worried that the next time you visit a national park you might not likely see one.
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