Conservationists and animal are in mourning today for the of Sudan the rhinoceros. Sudan was the world's last male white rhino. The 45-year-old animal was put down by his at a zoo in Kenya after "age-related ". He had been in very poor health due to his old age. Zoo officials say his condition had "worsened " and that he no longer had the to stand. His muscles had severely deteriorated throughout his body and his skin had "extensive ". The zoo's director said: "Sudan's death was a cruel symbol of human disregard for nature and it saddened everyone who knew him....He stole the heart of many with his and strength."
Like many of Earth's majestic , hunters have hunted the northern white rhino to near-. There were more than 2,000 northern white rhino in the in the 1960s but their numbers dwindled because of the value of their horns. The only remaining northern white rhinos today are two females - Sudan's daughter and granddaughter. Both animals live in so they will be protected. There are that the two females can produce young to keep the going. In vitro fertilization using stored semen from other dead rhinos could be used to impregnate Sudan's offspring. The is hoping to raise $9 million to fund the project.
