The Northern White Rhinoceros in Sudan

One of the rarest big beasts is the Northern White Rhinoceros. Sudan is home of this relic ungulate. These subspecies are now feared to be extinct in the wild. There are currently seven left in captivity, four of them are also the only reproductive animals of this subspecies.

We can Sudan or more specifically the southern part of Souther Sudan home of the Northern White Rhinoceros at least for now. Since mid 2003, poaching had intensified and reduced the wild population to only five to 10 animals (seven actual count worldwide). The four known remaining northern white rhinos in the wild, in Garamba National Park, have not been seen in recent years, and it is feared they have been killed. If confirmed, this would make the northern white rhino extinct in the wild apart from the last chance efforts by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to reintroduce it in a wild state. There are no recent reports of the animal seen in Sudan.

Following the phylogenetic species concept, recent research has suggested the northern white rhinoceros may be an altogether different species, rather than a subspecies of white rhinoceros. Distinct morphological and genetic differences suggest the two proposed species have been separated for at least a million years. Although it wouldn't be right to call Sudan a country to blame for the eventual extinction, the disorder in the country contributed to the shrinking population of the rhinoceros. One of the four adults in the Czech Dvůr Králové Zoo is called Sudan - a 35-year-old male, who was caught from the wild in Sudan at 3 years old.

The cheap international calls may help you if you want to visit Sudan.