NORTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS

Scientific name: Ceratotherium simum cottoni

“As I pointed my camera at Sudan, the last standing Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), a realisation washed over me; how did we get to this position? With black-market rhino horn more highly valued than gold, he was never alone and after our session, his armed guards accompanied him into his specially constructed safe for the night.”

A year after Flach photographed him, Sudan passed away. In his final years, he captured the world’s attention and heart, representing a poignant symbol of the plight of his subspecies. With only two remaining individuals, both females named Najin and Fatu, the future of the northern white rhino hangs in the balance. They reside in a protected sanctuary in Kenya.

Conservationists are working to revive the northern white rhino population. This includes innovative approaches such as collecting and preserving genetic material from the last remaining individuals and conducting extensive research into advanced reproductive technologies. These efforts aim to create viable embryos that could potentially be implanted into southern white rhino surrogates, offering a glimmer of hope for the species.

Learn more about the More than Human exhibition.