Who is Sudan? Google Doodle honors last male northern white rhino, all you need to know about the 'Gentle Giant'
From celebrating holidays to paying tribute to inspiring personalities, Google Doodles have never failed to surprise us. On December 20, the multinational tech company has come up with a touching doodle celebrating Sudan, the world’s last surviving male northern white rhino, who died two years ago.
The doodle features an illustration of Sudan with "Remembering Sudan, the Last Male Northern White Rhino" written. In the doodle, Sudan can be seen standing amidst bushes in a field filled with trees and flowers. The doodle is by Sophie Diao.
Elucidating on the chose theme, Google wrote: “Today’s Doodle remembers the last surviving male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan, who was known as an affectionate “gentle giant.” On this day in 2009, Sudan and three other northern white rhinos arrived at their new home in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. Sudan, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 45 (the equivalent of 90 in human years), serves as a cherished symbol of ongoing rhino conservation efforts and a stark reminder of the danger of extinction that so many species face today.”
In 2009, on this day, Sudan and three other northern white rhinos arrived at their new home at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The rhino was captured in Shambe, Sudan in 1975, and is believed to be the last northern white rhino born in the wild, according to Cnet. A year later, Sudan was taken to Dvůr Králové Zoo in Czechoslovakia (now the Czeck Republic). As per the report, it was the only zoo in the world where northern white rhinos have successfully given birth. There, Sudan had three calves and became the grandfather of one.
In 2009, four of them were transferred back to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, after the northern white rhino was declared extinct in the wild. Conservationists had hoped that being in their natural Kenyan habitat would encourage breeding among the rhinos, but those efforts were unsuccessful. During his final years, Sudan spent his life with his daughter Najin and granddaughter Fatu before being euthanized in 2018 at the age of 45. Google also said, “Yet there is still hope, as scientists work to develop in vitro fertilization techniques to save the subspecies from the brink of extinction. For now, Sudan’s legacy rests with Najin and Fatu, the world’s final two northern white rhinoceros.”
Last month, as reported by MEAWW, Google had come up with a doodle on Thanksgiving ahead of November 26 celebrations. It featured two squirrels on the left and two birds on the right exchanging gifts on the occasion of Thanksgiving. Explaining the theme of the Thanksgiving doodle, Google had written, “On the last Thursday of November each year, many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by expressing gratitude and sharing a moment and meal together. Though this year will look a bit different for folks around the country, today’s Doodle—and the furry and feathered friends in it—recognize the spirit of this special holiday: a time for everyone to reflect on their blessings, appreciate loved ones both near and far, and embrace new traditions.”