The Last Northern White Rhino, by: Jonell Williams, 2nd Period

     The last known male northern white rhino is under 24 hour surveillance in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. After the death of Suni and Angalifu in 2014, the only other male northern white rhinos, Sudan is the last known northern white rhino in the world. So the race to continue the species is underway and has been, sadly unsuccessful. Sudan's female companions, Fatu and Najin are in the same conservatory, but their age might contribute to the lack of fertility. Sudan is an elderly 42 year old with a low sperm count. While Najin is 25 years old but has weak legs which might not be able to support a mounted male. Fatu is 15 years old, a spring chicken. The only other option might be to mate one of the northern white rhinos with a southern white rhino, or go through with in vitro fertilization which looks more promising. There are only five northern white rhinos left in captivity including Sudan, Fatu and Najin; the other two are individually in San Diego and the Czech Republic.
   

 It is unbelievable that alone 1,020 rhinos were poached in 2014. Although animal relief efforts have been supported by law the attitude of poachers has and most likely will not change as long as the business is lucrative. This is reminiscent of Theodore Roosevelt's efforts of conservation in the United States. Such as his creation of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in 1903. The first federal bird reservation out of 55 other bird reservations in the future. "The preservation of Pelican island was the first time the federal government set aside land for the sake of wildlife" as stated by the Pelican Island's official website. The preservation was created to keep brown pelican from being hunted, and now northern white rhinos are the ones in need of protection around the world. Conservation efforts will continue as long as there is a threat of extinction, and malice from radical hunters.  

1. http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/16/africa/kenya-northern-white-rhino/index.html

2. Pelican Island website: http://www.fws.gov/pelicanisland/history.html