News: Only 6 Northern White Rhinos Left on Earth

Mrnoniee

Countdown to extinction: Only 6 northern white rhinos left on Earth

Quote:

(CNN) -- Unique? Suni was much more than that. He was vital to the survival of his kind.

So, on Friday, after rangers found the northern white rhino lifeless in his hut on a Kenyan wildlife conservancy, a short countdown to extinction began.

Suni was one of only seven northern whites left in the world, all of which live in captivity. There are none known to be left in the wild.

More importantly, Suni was one of only two breeding males left, said the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in a statement.

Now the conservationists have but one male and two females that can breed. And that doesn't happen often. When Suni mated with female Najin in April 2012, it was her first time in ten years.

A month passed before they mated again. So far, no offspring.

But Ol Pejeta conservationists say they will persevere "in the hope that our efforts will one day result in the successful birth of a northern white rhino calf."

This is so Sad.

Shamser

In b4 Adele jokes.

Maneater

So sad.

ReginaPhalange

Only 6 birkins left

Superbitch

this is so depressing.

fabilicious

I really hope there are some of them out there undiscovered.

Icarus

People who cut off their horns and kill them should be shot

Legacy

Damn

we're destroying earth

alexanderao

Quote:

Originally posted by Shamser

In b4 Adele jokes.

Rusty

Mezter

Why can't they just make them breed?

Penny.

some people are so disgusting
leave them alone

Hobbes

Congratulations, humanity.

Pokistic

Quote:

Originally posted by Shamser

In b4 Adele jokes.

Pokistic

Anyway... this is so sad.

Poor guys.

Topherfy

If they can preserve the sperm and egg from those who are able to breed, can't they do some in vitro equivalent for animals and put the zygote into a regular rhino? Just get a bunch (over time), and spreed it across a lot of rhinos?

NEZ

it must be hard to get in the mood when you weigh like a thousand pounds.

Tristan

Eternium

Quote:

Originally posted by IcarusIsFlying

People who cut off their horns and kill them should be shot

The people who buy them should also start being penalized. They're never going to stop the black market if they don't start killing off the buyers.

Quote:

Originally posted by Mezter

Why can't they just make them breed?

Because they weigh tons and are not trained. With, say, killer whales it's different because you can train them and collect semen samples/trust them with other whales. With rhinos, you have to worry about them fighting/killing each other and they're not always going to want to procreate, much like how elephants generally wait a long time to mate due to them having such long gestation periods.

Quote:

Originally posted by Topherfy

If they can preserve the sperm and egg from those who are able to breed, can't they do some in vitro equivalent for animals and put the zygote into a regular rhino? Just get a bunch (over time), and spreed it across a lot of rhinos?

I'm guessing they're planning on doing that, though they have to worry about genetic uniformity. If they say they're unworried, I'd guess that means they have semen samples from some now deceased rhinos.

Rami328

This is so upsetting