So sad...

[Galant]

This fella is apparently the last man on Earth - well, the last male, White Northern Rhino. Along with him there are four females.

He's now under armed guard 24/7 to protect him from poachers and it's hoped he'll breed with the females. There's a crowd-funding appeal open to raise funds to maintain the guard.

How does it get to this state?

Also, does anyone know how likely it is the species can survive with such a shallow gene pool?

Some excerpts from the story (The Independent) and more images here:

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.

“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.

[Smudger]

Just heard the West African Black Rhino has been declared officially extinct as well. Just so people can make magic potions to make their wang bigger?

[sammyc]

Oh for a higher species to evolve & do unto us etc. Payback well overdue.

Thanks isn't really the right word but thanks for bringing it to notice anyway, Galant.

[Galant]

Anyone any idea on the odds of a comeback when there's only one male and four females - genetically speaking?

[kalniel]

Anyone any idea on the odds of a comeback when there's only one male and four females - genetically speaking?

Almost nil. If you're talking about pure white northern Rhino. They have samples from the other males that died before so if Rhino IVF ever improves enough to be viable then that's some hope. Otherwise we just have to try and breed them with the southern Rhino and accept the pure breed has gone.

[TooNice]

Are we anywhere near a stage where we could use cloning can be used to save species in one way or another?

[kalniel]

Are we anywhere near a stage where we could use cloning can be used to save species in one way or another?

Still faces the same problem of lack of genetic diversity. We haven't figured variation out yet well enough to begin playing about with it properly.

[deejayburnout]

Just heard the West African Black Rhino has been declared officially extinct as well. Just so people can make magic potions to make their wang bigger?

I wonder if the poachers ever thought what they would do when there is no more rhinos to poach?

My worry is what they are going to poach now?

[TooNice]

I wonder if the poachers ever thought what they would do when there is no more rhinos to poach?

My guess is that they will have made enough money to care.

Still faces the same problem of lack of genetic diversity. We haven't figured variation out yet well enough to begin playing about with it properly.

Yeah, I didn't mean in this particular case. But would it make sense to start collecting the DNA endangered species. How many samples would you need to provide the much needed diversity?

[kalniel]

Yeah, I didn't mean in this particular case. But would it make sense to start collecting the DNA endangered species. How many samples would you need to provide the much needed diversity?

We are collecting DNA (and putting it in the public domain as much as possible). Depends on a lot of factors, possibly somewhere between 4000-5000 genetically diverse individuals.