Leslie & Vickie’s 2026 Safari

This afternoon we visited the only two Northern White Rhinos (NWR) that are left in existence. They live at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

I will be copying from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy website as I want the best correct information. I encourage you to visit: https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/what-we-do/conservation/wildlife-conservation/rhinos/

Ol Pejeta is home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos, and a sanctuary for over 165 critically Endangered black rhinos. The Conservancy employs highly trained rhino protection squads, partners with international veterinary experts and ensures data is gathered regularly on each individual animal. Steps like these ensure we remain a role model for rhino conservation in East and Central Africa.

The northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is a subspecies of white rhino, which used to range over parts of Uganda, Chad, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Years of widespread poaching and civil war in their home range have devastated northern white rhino populations, and they are now considered to be extinct in the wild. Only two remain, both on Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

On December 20th, 2009, four of the world’s last remaining seven northern white rhinos arrived at Ol Pejeta. Najin, Fatu, Sudan and Suni had been living in Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic. All previous breeding attempts in the Zoo had been futile, and the hope was that the climate and rich grasslands of Ol Pejeta, a native habitat for the animals, would provide them with more favourable breeding conditions.

To keep the northern white rhinos safe and in good health, Ol Pejeta dedicated 24hr armed security, a 700-acre enclosure, and a nutritious diet supplemented with fresh vegetables. Expectations were raised when Suni was seen mating with Najin in 2012, but as the gestation period of 16 months wore on, it was clear that Najin was not pregnant. With so few northern whites remaining, it was decided that a southern white male would be introduced to Fatu and Najin in the hope of producing offspring that would at least preserve some of the northern white genes. Again, this proved unsuccessful.

To make a long story short: it was discovered that both females were unable to get pregnant due to something wrong with their uterus. And the last male, Sudan, had a low sperm count due to his age. Not giving up though, the scientists were able to perform IVF and used a SWR as a surrogate. The pregnancy took! But within a few months the surrogate died of an infection believed to have come from horses that also lived within the conservancy. They will be trying for another IVF soon. What a great effort!

A surprise to me is the white rhinos are actually quite docile- nothing like the aggressive black rhino.

A success story!

The Southern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) is listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and decreasing in number. According to the IUCN, this subspecies was on the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century – having been reduced to just one small population of approximately 20-50 animals in South Africa. However, in one of the most successful collective conservation efforts of the century, there are now thriving populations in 12 countries in east and southern Africa – totalling around 16,000 individuals. However, the population of white rhinos has decreased rapidly in the last four years, from over 18,000 in 2018 to 16,000 today.

There is so much to say about these animals and their history but I’ll leave that to you to go further. I will say that I’m impressed with the dedication the conservancies have to keeping these animals.

Before we leave – we get to meet Barak- a black rhino who lives here and is blind most likely from fighting. He is quite docile and loves horn rubs!

We will post the rest of our day in another blog. We hope you enjoyed learning about the white rhinos.

Leslie and Vickie

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