The Atlantic

The Death of the Last Male Northern White Rhino Won’t Change the Species' Fate

It’s a tragic moment for a subspecies that is already functionally extinct.
Source: Thomas Mukoya / Reuters

With wide three-toed hooves and no thumbs, Sudan could neither swipe right nor swipe left. But last April, he joined Tinder anyway, making him the only northern white rhino on the dating network. He was, indeed, the only male northern white rhino on the entire planet, and anyone who swiped right on his profile was asked to donate to research into artificially breeding rhinos. “I don’t mean to be too forward, but the fate of my species literally depends on me,” Sudan’s profile read.

On Monday, Sudan at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. At the age of 45,

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Atlantic

The Atlantic4 min read
KitchenAid Did It Right 87 Years Ago
My KitchenAid stand mixer is older than I am. My dad bought the white-enameled machine 35 years ago, during a brief first marriage. The bits of batter crusted into its cracks could be from the pasta I made yesterday or from the bread he made then. I
The Atlantic17 min read
How America Became Addicted to Therapy
A few months ago, as I was absent-mindedly mending a pillow, I thought, I should quit therapy. Then I quickly suppressed the heresy. Among many people I know, therapy is like regular exercise or taking vitamin D: something a sensible person does rout
The Atlantic5 min read
The Strangest Job in the World
This is an edition of the Books Briefing, our editors’ weekly guide to the best in books. Sign up for it here. The role of first lady couldn’t be stranger. You attain the position almost by accident, simply by virtue of being married to the president

Related Books & Audiobooks