The Last Two: The Battle to Save the Northern White Rhinos

The last two northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, are protected by a team of rangers at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. They are descended from the last male northern white rhino, Sudan, and were transferred to Kenya in 2009 in the hope of helping them regain their zest for life and reproduction. However, the deaths of Sudan and Suni have left the future of the species in the hands of their Kenyan caretakers and a team of scientists at the BioRescue international consortium. The consortium is developing and using several techniques to resurrect the species, including assisted reproduction and stem cell research. The plan is to insert northern white rhino embryos into southern white rhino surrogate mothers as soon as possible, and the first "new" northern white rhino baby is expected to be born in late 2023.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

The last two northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, are the focus of a desperate fight for their survival at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. These magnificent creatures are the last of their kind, descended from the last male northern white rhino, Sudan. In 2009, Najin and Fatu were brought to Kenya in the hope that returning them to their natural habitat would help them regain their zest for life and reproduction. Unfortunately, the deaths of Sudan and Suni have left the future of the northern white rhino in the hands of their Kenyan caretakers and a team of scientists at the BioRescue international consortium. The consortium is developing and using several different techniques to resurrect the species, including assisted reproduction and stem cell research. The plan is to insert northern white rhino embryos into southern white rhino surrogate mothers as soon as possible, with the first "new" northern white rhino baby expected to be born in late 2023.

The journey to save the northern white rhino is a complex one, with a variety of factors contributing to their decline. Wars, climate change, poaching, and the black market have all taken a toll on the species, leaving them on the brink of extinction. Journalists Boštjan and Maja Videmšek explore this question in their book, The Last Two, by taking readers on a journey through the history of the northern white rhino. They introduce the rangers, conservationists, and scientists fighting for the future of the species and dissect what led the species to the brink of extinction.

Despite the challenges, there is hope for the future of the northern white rhino. The efforts of the BioRescue consortium and the Kenyan caretakers are showing signs of success, and the first "new" northern white rhino baby is on the horizon. The book also highlights the importance of conservation efforts around the world, and the need for governments, organizations, and individuals to come together to protect endangered species.

The Last Two is a powerful and emotional book that sheds light on the plight of the northern white rhino and the fight to save them. It is a reminder of the importance of biodiversity and the fragility of our planet's ecosystems. It is a call to action for all of us to do our part in protecting the environment and the species that inhabit it.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538178461