Kenyans on Twitter were on Tuesday joined by Twitterati all over the world in mourning the death of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino.
Sudan was put down on Monday through euthanasia by a veterinary team from the Dvůr Králové Zoo, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS).
‘The Lone Bachelor’ as he was fondly nicknamed, was being treated for age-related complications that led to degenerative changes in muscles and bones combined with extensive skin wounds. He died aged 45.
The Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which looked after Sudan at its base in Kenya, on Tuesday said Sudan’s condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours as he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal.
“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(Czech Republic.) Throughout his existence, he significantly contributed to survival of his species as he sired two females,” the conservancy eulogised Sudan.
Additionally, his genetic material was collected on Monday and provides a hope for future attempts at a reproduction of northern white rhinos through advanced cellular technologies.
The conservancy said Sudan during his final years came back to Africa and stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength.
“We on Ol Pejeta are all saddened by Sudan’s death. He was a great ambassador for his species and will be remembered for the work he did to raise awareness globally of the plight facing not only rhinos but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unsustainable human activity. One day, his demise will hopefully be seen as a seminal moment for conservationists worldwide,” said Richard Vigne, Ol Pejeta’s CEO.
The death of the global icon and gentle giant was felt from all corners of the world as netizens took to social media to fault the human species for letting down Sudan.
We have sampled some of the reactions:
What hope there is for the Northern White is due to the tremendous work of @OlPajeta and others, but we simply shouldn’t be in this position. Sudan’s death should be taken as a warning bell. Time is running out for too many species. #SudanForever
— Paul Heffernan (@61moonraker) March 20, 2018
Sure, we should not rest and see things happen as they are happening. This should sound as an alarm since we don’t know what next will leave this universe to ever live to be extinct. It is clear now in the whole world we do not have any other male Northern white rhino, he is gone
— Musaah K Thiessen (@mapping_boy) March 20, 2018
So very very sad that the species ‘human’ has allowed this to happen.
— peter burton (@peteswildlife) March 20, 2018
This is so sad. I wish the world would take a lesson from this.
— Nicola Whittington (@NicolaAnne84) March 20, 2018
A couple of weeks ago, I genuinely had hope that Sudan would pull through. I’m completely torn. My heart goes out to all devoted staff who worked by his side, cared/supported and protected him 24/7. You all did a fantastic job♥️ #RememberingSudan
— catherine? (@_heyitscatx) March 20, 2018
We send our thoughts and condolences to all at @OlPejeta who loved and took care of Sudan! We all loved him and prayed for hope! We are not only mourning his sad passing but the end of a species! #RIPSudan #SudanForever #NorthernWhiteRhinoForever ?
— March4ElesAndRhinos (@EleRhinoMarch) March 20, 2018
So sad. I thought I was going to see him one last time.
Thanks for the recognition and eulogizing him.
?— Lee mburu (@counsel_lee) March 20, 2018
I am so taken by the sudden death of the only male #NorthernWhiteRhino in the world. May he rest in peace. How about the efforts to use a surrogate mother from the close related #SouthernWhiteRhino? #SudanForever #TheLoneBachelorGone #Only2Left
— Musaah K Thiessen (@mapping_boy) March 20, 2018
You and all involved should be congratulated for enabling Sudan to live his final years in freedom and safe from the threat of poaching. He died at home surrounded by those who loved him, a meaningful life and a dignified passing is something that we can all hope for. ??
— Adam Hussain (@adamzhussain) March 20, 2018
Incredibly sad to think in all this world there are only two of these great animals left… and there will never be anymore without the help of extraordinary science.
— Mr Hamill (@NoKodachrome) March 20, 2018
?? Thank you to all of you that took such good care of him in his Senior years. My thoughts are with you.
— JeanieAnn (@Jeanie_Ann) March 20, 2018
My heart is breaking for your devastating loss of #Sudan. ?????
Oh God I am SO ashamed to be a part of the human race that allowed this to happen. I hope that his passing will be a WAKE UP CALL TO THE WORLD that we MUST SAVE our precious wildlife while we still have time. ?— Janine Hills (@Dolphin_Support) March 20, 2018
He held the future of the northern white rhino on his massive shoulders. Rest in peace big guy you were amazing. Sending Hugs to all the staff at @OlPejeta for their outstanding work looking after him.?
— Janice Murdoch (@isklar25) March 20, 2018
And this will still happen until we stop deforestation and value wildlife. #ItIsOurResponsibility pic.twitter.com/ABCJ4u4K8S
— Arvelor (@ArvelorJepkirui) March 20, 2018
Dear Sudan,
We will continue to sing your song.
Can’t wait to flip our calendars to September so your majestic beauty remains etched on our minds.#SudanForever ? pic.twitter.com/Q6pA5zZKV7— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) March 20, 2018
Sudan the rhino is gone.
It was a joy meeting you, old man .. thank you for doing your best to save your species. We humans failed you.
To the team at @OlPejeta
… Thank you for doing your best. My ? goes out to his carers.#NorthernWhiteRhino#MostEligibleBachelor pic.twitter.com/ApoqNU7Psn— Naomi Mutua ?? (@AKenyanGirl) March 20, 2018
Please donate to the cause to rejuvenate the #NorthernWhiteRhino species through IVF. Science might still have a chance to help. Najin & Fatu, his family, are the #Only2Left now.https://t.co/ZMKIgQBRxh
(Fatu & Najin in the picture) pic.twitter.com/DnCoYYTNh6
— Naomi Mutua ?? (@AKenyanGirl) March 20, 2018
The journey with the #NorthernWhiteRhino … See the timeline.#Only2Left pic.twitter.com/YnglaOh7J7
— Naomi Mutua ?? (@AKenyanGirl) March 20, 2018
Today was heartbreaking for us all as the world says goodbye to Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino on Earth. We are sending all our love to the team at @OlPejeta who have lost part of their family today. Now, more than ever, we must stand together and protect our rhinos. pic.twitter.com/uTX2kmUjEL
— Bindi Irwin (@BindiIrwin) March 20, 2018
So sad to learn of 45-year old Sudan’s passing. This is the last Northern White Rhino! I visited him on March 2, 2018. Focus in now on the last two females. Thanking the @OlPejeta team, Scientists, @kwskenya team for their valiant efforts. #RIPSudan #SudanForever pic.twitter.com/RXGtKBG1Ee
— Prof. Judi Wakhungu EGH (@JudiWakhungu) March 20, 2018
Farewell Sudan:
The world’s Last Male Northern White Rhino; Sudan, died at @OlPejeta Conservancy yesterday (March 19, 2018), leaving behind only two if its kind.
It is time we talked Wildlife Conservancy. #RIPSudanRhino #SudanForever pic.twitter.com/EkIIVx8NUg— Churchill (@MwalimChurchill) March 20, 2018
Incredible @Amivee photo: Zachariah Mutai comforts Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, moments before he died at @OlPejeta.
There are now just two northern white rhinos left on earth. https://t.co/8rD932Xy53 pic.twitter.com/8CccCnZeB2
— Erin Ruberry (@erinruberry) March 20, 2018
BREAKING and HEARTBROKEN Sudan, the last northern white rhino has died in Kenya. A majestic species brought to its knees by our greed & ignorance, but mostly by inaction. #RIP @ntvkenya @nytimes @bbchealth @KTNKenya @NationBreaking @MagicalKenya @kwskenya @tunajibu @dr_mwakima
— Dr. Paula Kahumbu (@paulakahumbu) March 20, 2018
Congratulations to all the poachers out there. You have got what you wanted. Last male northern white rhino ‘Sudan’ dies on Kenya reserve. What a shameful day for the human race and a sad day for our planet #rhino #Extinction https://t.co/3rptNViHBl pic.twitter.com/GmEZbnisFk
— Philip Morris (@phil500) March 20, 2018
Well this is heart breaking. Sudan, the last male northern white Rhino has passed away.
Rest well Sudan, humans have managed to make extinct a entirely beautiful, stunning and peaceful species. Very sad ? pic.twitter.com/nm6mWXu6qP— Nature is Amazing ? (@AMAZlNGNATURE) March 20, 2018
