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[Escape Goat]

The last male northern white rhino is under armed guard 24 hours a day at a Kenyan reserve to protect him from poachers.

The rhino, named Sudan, is cared for by rangers at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, along with his two female companions.

The trio make up three of the last five northern white rhinos on earth – two other females are also in captivity.

Sudan is fitted with radio transmitters to increase security and has had his horns removed to deter poachers.

“With the rising demand for rhino horn and ivory, we face many poaching attempts and while we manage to counter a large number of these, we often risk our lives in the line of duty,” said one of Sudan’s rangers, Simor Irungu in an interview with UK's World of Animals.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there were more than 2,000 northern white rhinos as late as 1960. However, high levels of poaching mean that there were only 15 animals left in 1980, and only five by 2015. Kenya Wildlife services have suggested that 54 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2014.

The only other male northern white rhino left on earth died last autumn, of natural causes.

Scientists are now turning their attention to trying to mate Sudan with one of the other two females at the reserve.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...w-be-kept-under-armed-guard-247-10171204.html

They removed his horn to negate his value to poachers. How sad that its come down to this. Hopefully they can successfully mate with the two females but even if they do that doesnt seem viable in the long term unless poachers are addressed directly and forcefully.

 

[Amory]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

 

[Yagharek]

Only one male? The species is functionally extinct then, surely.

What a fucking disgrace.

 

[demon]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

It's a sad but obvious answer.

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

I need to get a hard on. So what if a few animals go extinct in the process.

 

[Exile20]

Only one male? The species is functionally extinct then, surely.

What a fucking disgrace.

Ye there are going to have inbreeding.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

China's GDP keeps going up.

 

[Trojita]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

Chinese demand.

 

[firen]

How very sad

I need to get a hard on. So what if a few animals go extinct in the process.

What?

 

[massoluk]

Ye there are going to have inbreeding.

O, rheino.

 

[blame space]

who the hell is buying all this ivory

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

supply and demand

 

[dskillzhtown]

They removed his horn to negate his value to poachers. How sad that its come down to this. Hopefully they can successfully mate with the two females but even if they do that doesnt seem viable in the long term unless poachers are addressed directly and forcefully.

It's sad. Being forceful with poachers hasn't seemed to work so far. Maybe give them an economic alternative to poaching will work. I read that some poachers were given jobs as guides for game hunters on trips to hunt non-endangered animals. Just a thought. From afar, it seems the approach to stopping poaching hasn't worked so far.

 

[Exile20]

I need to get a hard on. So what if a few animals go extinct in the process.

Really?

 

[Alx]

Yeah it's already over when there are so few specimens alive. I hope they stored many DNA samples, in case there is a way to recreate the population in the future. :/

 

[Neverfade]

Noble, but it sounds like they're one rhino too late.

Better luck next time, I guess.

Really?

REALLY? Woosh.

 

[kurisu_1974]

Really?

No.

 

[Escape Goat]

How very sad



What?

Some asian cultures use various endangered animal parts as aphrodisiacs. Like tiger balls or rhino horns.

 

[potam]

supply and demand

I don't think that means what you think it means

 

[-Horizon-]

This is depressing

Spoiler

at least he will have his harem end

 

[Kinyou]

I'm surprised how close they can get to the rhino.

 

[Ushojax]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

Ignorant Chinese people with money to burn.

 

[Kin5290]

Really?

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine can be astoundingly stupid.

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

I thought the sarcasm was oozing from my post.

 

[Trojita]

who the hell is buying all this ivory

It's sad, but the Middle Class and Upper Class of China adore Ivory for how clean and white it looks. It is often shaped into religion iconography, such as Buddha statues, which is pathetic mockery of many of the values of the belief. They also sometimes have them fashioned into ancestors or famous people in Chinese History. The whiter the ivory, the purer the ivory is thought be, and the purer material is thought fit for this iconography.

It's also seen in general as something to spend their wealth on for prestige and image. Many Chinese companies dealing with Ivory work with poachers to illegally acquire the Ivory. China has a very high influence in Africa right now as well.

 

[Poodlestrike]

I thought the sarcasm was oozing from my post.

You can never be sure. /s saves lives, people.

 

[Confidence Man]

It's sad. Being forceful with poachers hasn't seemed to work so far. Maybe give them an economic alternative to poaching will work. I read that some poachers were given jobs as guides for game hunters on trips to hunt non-endangered animals. Just a thought. From afar, it seems the approach to stopping poaching hasn't worked so far.

What's considered "forceful"? Have they tried heads on pikes?

 

[strafer]

how does it not charge those soldiers?

 

[DrFunk]

I thought the sarcasm was oozing from my post.

It's ok, I understood it

 

[jelly]

Chinese idiotic medicine and rich art. Very sad, do they not realise what they're doing.

 

[astroturfing]

goddamn depressing.

we will really kill an entire species off, every single male and female, if there's some money to be made.

 

[Flo_Evans]

Whats fucked up is we have viagra now.

 

[Thequietone]

how does it not charge those soldiers?

He is probably used to them being there and knows they aren't a threat. I just hope they don't get bribed to turn a blind eye.

 

[Icefire1424]

What's considered "forceful"? Have they tried heads on pikes?

Seriously. Hate to say it, but anything less than an "agressive response" against the poachers, and severe penalties for identified buyers of the product is useless, it would seem.

 

[Super Nothing]

how does it not charge those soldiers?

He's probably used to having them around. He might even think they're part of his herd.

 

[Goro Majima]

Yeah it's already over when there are so few specimens alive. I hope they stored many DNA samples, in case there is a way to recreate the population in the future. :/

Basically. We're just witnessing a drawn out end to extinction here.

I kinda wonder why no one has thought of figuring out a way of commercializing rhinos for their horns if it's in such demand?

 

[HazySaiyan]

Goddammit, this is fucking sad and disgusting that people even have to do this. Poachers are fucking scum

How very sad



What?

Some people think it's an aphrodisiac.

 

[RS4-]

Seriously. Hate to say it, but anything less than an "agressive response" against the poachers, and severe penalties for identified buyers of the product is useless, it would seem.

This is how I feel too, should really do something about them.

 

[CyclopsRock]

I heard that a poacher's penis is an aphrodisiac to rhinos.

 

[Empty]

poaching makes me so upset. sad photo.

 

[CTLance]

Man, with only five individuals left and only one male among them, the species is extinct, even if there are still living specimens around.

... well, at least the last male gets to go out in style, surrounded by a harem and bodyguards.

We humans are such stupid fucktards sometimes.

 

[maquiladora]

I thought the sarcasm was oozing from my post.

Sounds painful. I know a cure for that....

 

[maquiladora]

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Tragic.

Someone explain to me how can you save a species with only having one male specimen? Ok they have a baby rhino, maybe two baby rhinos and then... what? What if the two babies are two males?

Like, they are extinct right now anyway... they can have tanks and helis patrolling the rhino but it is too late anyway.

Or maybe... Adam + Eve scenario

 

[Ventara]

Damn, that really sucks. For what's it's worth, I'm glad they've taken drastic action, but I fear it's way too late.

O, rheino.

lol

 

[Clearos]

and when the Rhino (including the black and white rhinos) become extinct there will be a new rare animal that will magically contain healing properties.

 

[RELAYER]

Last male on earth

 

[MegaPanda]

Tragic.

Someone explain to me how can you save a species with only having one male specimen? Ok they have a baby rhino, maybe two baby rhinos and then... what? What if the two babies are two males?

Like, they are extinct right now anyway... they can have tanks and helis patrolling the rhino but it is too late anyway.

Or maybe... Adam + Eve scenario

I mean, it's guard the rhino, leave him alone to get poached, or lock him up in a zoo or something. There aren't many options here but at least guarding him will let him live out his life till the end

 

[theepicoftyler]

Tragic.

Someone explain to me how can you save a species with only having one male specimen? Ok they have a baby rhino, maybe two baby rhinos and then... what? What if the two babies are two males?

Like, they are extinct right now anyway... they can have tanks and helis patrolling the rhino but it is too late anyway.

Or maybe... Adam + Eve scenario

I would imagine that there is genetic material saved from the more recently poached rhinos. I'm not a biologist, but I think there is some hope for genetically modifying embryos to diversify the population if they can start growing it again. I'm not sure how in vitro fertilization has gone with this species, however (or if those efforts are being made).

 

[twobear]

Chinese idiotic medicine and rich art. Very sad, do they not realise what they're doing.

the fewer rhinos there are, the most expensive and rare ivory gets. they know exactly what they're doing: pushing up the price of their product.