Sudan the last male northern white rhino could save his species after from beyond the grave after testicles frozen
The first rhino to go on Tinder could continue his pioneering streak - as the first IVF father with a surrogate rhino mum
THE last male northern white rhino could save his species after zookeepers from beyond the grave after his keepers froze his testicles on his death bed.
Sudan was 45 when he died in Kenya after a degenerative age-related condition left him unable to stand.
With his death the world pronounced the end of the northern white rhinos after attempts to mate with the two remaining females of his species failed.
But beloved Sudan - who had a massive human fanbase - could still give father to the first IVF rhino after his death.
According to , scientists have made "remarkable" progress with rhino IVFs and in just a few years have successfully harvested female eggs and fertilised them in laboratories.
The last hurdle to overcome is to get the embryos to a stage where they can be frozen and revived.
If that happens, vets will harvest eggs from the last two existing northern white rhinos, Najin, 27 and Fatu, 17.
But because the pair, who are Sudan's daughter and granddaughter respectively, are too old to become pregnant, scientists would use a female southern white rhino as a surrogate - in a staggering double first for rhino reproduction.
Heartbreaking photos show Sudan's final days at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, after he was euthanised on Monday after age-related complications meant he had dramatically deteriorated.
The rhinoceros had previously lived at the Dver Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic before being transported to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about 155 miles north of Nairobi, where he lived with Najin and Fatu.
Sudan could still become a father after his death at 45After all attempts at getting him to mate naturally failed conservationists last year put Sudan on dating app Tinder hoping to raise enough money to pay for a $9 million fertility treatment.
The link took people to a fundraising page.
Conservancy CEO Richard Vigne said: "He was a great ambassador for his species and will be remembered for the work he did to raise awareness globally of the plight facing not only rhinos, but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unsustainable human activity."
High-profile supporters have shared their devastation at the news of his death.
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Australian actress and conservationist Bindi Irwin wrote: "Today was heartbreaking for us all as the world says goodbye to Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino on Earth.
"We are sending all our love to the team at @OlPejeta who have lost part of their family today.
"Now, more than ever, we must stand together and protect our rhinos."
Ex-England cricketer Kevin Pieterson added: "We failed Sudan & all the other Northern White Rhinos!
"Animal lovers, it’s time to go to work to save ALL other rhinos!"
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