US tech giant Google on Sunday published a doodle on its homepage to commemorate the world’s last male northern white rhino – Sudan who died on March 19, 2018. 

Sudan escaped the extinction of the male northern white rhino in the wild after he was relocated to Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic and later to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, Kenya.

His death left many Kenyans and global wildlife conservationists in sorrow with Sudan leaving behind only two females of his kind; his daughter Najin and granddaughter Fatu alive in the world.

The northern white rhino was declared extinct in the wild after the global environment campaign launched in 2008 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).


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PHOTO/COURTESY

Sudan spent 10 years under 24-hour armed surveillance at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County and died aged 45 years and was way past his breeding age.

Before he died, Sudan was one out of only three living northern white rhinos in the world as well as the last known male rhinoceros of his subspecies.


PHOTO/COURTESY

“Sudan will live to be remembered as the last male northern white rhino of his kind. Today as we celebrate him, may we strive to protect the environment and wildlife which is the foundation of all civilisation,” said Dorothy Ooko, Google head of communications and public affairs for Africa.

The iconic Sudan died while being treated for complications resulting from old age leading to degenerative changes in muscles and bones combined with extensive skin wounds.