-
Poaching Increase Due to High Demand for Rhino Horns
In the 1970s and 1980s, the demand for rhino's horns grew tremendously as needed for a supply for traditional Chinese medicine, while also selling for large amounts of money on the illegal black market. This led to a huge poaching increase, which caused the northern white rhino population to become extinct in Uganda, Central African, Sudan, and Chad. Source: https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/thorny_issues/can_we_save_the_northern_white_rhino -
International Trading Ban on Rhino Horns
In 1977, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) decided to ban international trading of rhino horns due to the decrease of nearly every rhino population in the world (especially northern white rhinos).
Sources: https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/thorny_issues/legalising_the_horn_trade/domestic_trade_in_rhino_horn
https://www.cites.org/ -
Trying to Repopulate the Northern White Rhino Species
The last of the northern white rhino population were living in a single population in the Garamba National Park in Africa from 1990 to early 2000s. This allowed them to repopulate to around 20 to 30 rhinos. However, the death-to-birth ratio was still unbalanced due to the Congolese Civil War, causing another high demand for ivory, and create a hostile living environment for the rhinos.
Source: https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/thorny_issues/can_we_save_the_northern_white_rhino -
The First and Second Congo War
Due to the wars in Africa happening from 1996-2003, the population of northern white rhino began to dwindle due to the increase in poaching, and the numbers of rhinos falling below two dozen making it harder for the rhinos to mate. Source: rhinosourcecenter.com -
Last Four Known Nothern White Rhinos Transported to Ol Pejeta Conservancy
On Dec. 20, 2009, the last four remaining Northern white rhinos, Najin, Fatu, Sudan, and Suni, were transported from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, Kenya. Here, they would have 24-hour armed surveillance in last remaining efforts to repopulate the species. Source: https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/wildlife/rhinos/northern-white-rhinos/ -
Suni, One of the Last Remaining Male Northern White Rhinos, Dies.
On Oct. 10, 2014, rangers from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy found Suni, one of the last two remaining male Northern white rhinos, dead. His death was caused by natural means, but with Sudan now being the last male Northern white rhino, many became concerned that this subspecies of white rhinos are on the cusp of extinction. Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/kenya/11172392/One-of-last-remaining-northern-white-rhinos-dies-in-Kenya.html -
Sudan, The Last Remaining Male Northern White Rhino, Dies
Sudan, the last remaining male of the Northern white rhino species, dies on March 19, 2018. This leaves only two remaining females at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, dooming the species to reproduce naturally & ending the northern white rhino species. Source: https://www.fauna-flora.org/species/northern-white-rhino
