On Sunday December 14, 2014, Angalifu, the Northern White Rhino that was on exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, passed away at the age of 44. The death of Angalifu, was a sad passing for the animal kingdom because it marks the death of the last six remaining Northern White Rhinos left in the world.
Several of the other remaining Northern White Rhinos have been sent to a reservation in Kenya, Africa, where they researchers and geneticists are trying to attempt to genetically breed the remaining members of this species, so they do not disappear from this world forever. While there is still one female Northern White Rhino at the San Diego Zoo, and there is one at the zoo in the Czech Republic. All these animals are under surveillance and are the only known of their species to be alive.
Poaching is a terrible practice that is still evident in today’s world, and is one of the main contributors as to why certain species have been in danger of becoming extinct throughout the world. For rhinoceros in particular, poachers are after their horns and remove them after they have killed the animals. While political governments are implementing more and more efforts to stop poaching, the black market continues to exist and is looking for these rare commodities, but at such a high price.
Photo: San Diego Zoo Global
