The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, leaving only two of its female subspecies alive. Ol Pejeta Conservancy confirmed in a statement that the 45-year-old rhino named Sudan died due to his age-related complications that led to degenerative changes in muscles and bones that were combined with extensive skin wounds. Gradually, his condition worsened, and he was not able to even stand and was suffering a great deal. Looking at Sudan’s disorder, the veterinary team from Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him.

Sudan found his new home during 1970s as he escaped extinction of his kind in the wild. He previously lived at the Dver Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic where he lived with the last two females of the same species. Sudan’s 27-year-old daughter Najin and Najin’s daughter Fatu who is 17-year-old. Fortunate or not, but researchers somehow were able to collect few of his genetic material that provides a hope for future attempts in reproduction of northern white rhinos through advanced cellular technologies.

Ol Pejeta authorities tweeted few hours ago declaring the sad demise of Sudan.

Northern white rhinos were at a time found in areas spanning Uganda, Chad and southwestern Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Joseph Thaida, who took care of Sudan at the conservancy since 2012, remembers him as a friendly and gentle rhino.

Here is glimpse of Sudan.

Sudan was no less than a celebrity who used to attract thousand of visitors. Media reports suggest that, in 2017 conservationists put Sudan on the dating app Tinder as “The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World”, in a hope to raise enough money for a fertility treatment as continuous attempts in involving him to mate naturally failed. Decades of rampant poaching drastically cut the northern white rhino numbers. The western black rhino was declared extinct seven years ago as a result of poaching. As per one of the conservation group, Save the Rhino, all five-remaining species worldwide are considered threatened. Human must stop this cruel practice. The world should learn from the sad demise of Sudan and strive to take every measure to end all trade in rhino horn.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 20, 2018 01:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).