Endangered rhino 'mascot' Ringo dies in captivity
In sad news out of Kenya, orphaned baby southern white rhino Ringo, who was featured on Sunday Night this year, has died.
Ringo was the adorable mascot and beacon of hope for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where he was being hand-reared.
The conservancy has been working hard to rebuild the southern white rhino numbers and caring for the remaining three northern white rhinos in existence.
Losing Ringo is a huge blow to the community and those who met him.
"Ringo had been unwell for two weeks, and despite our very best efforts, he succumbed to his illness during the night. His caregivers were by his side, a spokesperson from Ol Pejeta said.
"As we mourn the loss of a little rhino who had the odds stacked against him from day one, we also ask you all to join us in celebrating his life – recognising what a huge impact Ringo had on all who knew him."
A dedicated team of caregivers and vets ran tests when Ringo fell ill in early July, and consulted specialists in South Africa.
Unfortunately, raising wild-born rhinos in captivity is notoriously difficult.
"No matter how hard we try, humans can never replicate the environment that a rhino calf would be exposed to in the wild."
Ringo was abandoned by his mother and found emaciated in the wild.
He was not only being hand-reared at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, but required round-the-clock protection from poachers.
"During his short life, Ringo inspired hundreds of people all over the world with his playful antics and irresistible charm."
"In simply being himself, he helped to raise awareness about the plight of rhinos in Africa."
Southern white rhinos like Ringo actually are they key to saving their cousin, the northern white rhino.
Today just three northern whites remain in the world, protected by Ol Pejeta's fences — a male, Sudan, and two females, Najin and Fatu —but sadly they can no longer reproduce naturally.
Scientists are currently working to create a northern white rhino embryo with the goal to implant it in a southern white rhino.
San Diego Safari Park has brought over six reproductive females from Africa specifically to act as surrogates. Prior to this though, they also need to attempt and perfect embryo transfer in a rhino species.
WATCH MORE: Bold plan to save the northern white rhino
DR KES HILLMAN SMITH
To learn more about the efforts to save northern white rhinos by Dr Kez Hillman Smith, please head to www.Garamba.wix.com/GarambaConservation . There you can organise to purchase a copy of her book, Garamba: Conservation in Peace & War, which details not just her work with the rhinos but the story of Garamba National Park and all those who have fought to protect this incredible park and its wildlife. Or you can organise to buy a copy by emailing one of the other authors, Dr José Kalpers, who is based in Australia, at jkalpers@gmail.com.
SAVING THE NORTHERN WHITE RHINO
If you’d like to help scientists conceive a baby northern white rhino and save the species, please donate to the GoFundMe campaign raising funds to assist in the necessary research: http://www.gofundme.com/makearhino.
To plan a trip to see the world’s last three northern white rhinos or find out more information about Ol Pejeta, head to www.olpejetaconservancy.org. The conservancy is also the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa and the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees.
You can also find out more about baby Ringo here: www.olpejetaconservancy.org/ringo
To follow the efforts of the international team working to resurrect the northern white rhino in a lab, head to sandiegozoo.org/sdzglobal. There you can also learn more about the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research (home to the Frozen Zoo) or plan a visit to San Diego Safari Park and its Rhino Rescue Center. The new center was purpose-built for six female southern white rhinos slated to act as the surrogates for a northern white embryo.
