The Last Goodbye

[allenlondon]

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice/2020-the-last-goodbye

Sudan, the last white rhino on Earth, being comforted by one of his carers, just before he died.

Heartbreaking on so many levels.

[waterboatman]

So sad.

[KARL]

I believe there are still two females still alive and that there are hopes of "growing" offspring from them using advanced biotechnology.

[mallyh]

that's so sad .something has to be done to stop the awful people that kill these beautiful creatures.

[emmie]

apart from killing the poachers what can one do.

[mallyh]

try to educate the people that make potions from the horns

[emmie]

like the Chinese who use many of these rare animals for their potions, some chance of convincing many i would have thought

[emmie]

I agree its heartbreaking

[naomi24]

I can't read that. :o(

[dannyk13]

Must have been heart - breaking for the keeper.

[woofgang]

Apparently he died in 2018. To be clear he, and the remaining two females, are Northern White Rhinos which are a subspecies. The story of the Southern White Rhino is much more positive. https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino-info/population-figures/

[emmie]

you can't stop it, not while there are poor people who are willing to kill these animals for some financial gain. And those willing to pay for potions, as i said like the Chinese who use them in their medicinal compounds, elephants are no different, poached for their Ivory.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I don't think its a heart-breaking photo, I think its heart-warming. Every animal dies, and this rhino died in peace, presumably with adequate pain control, with his carer by his side. Many humans have not had that privilege.

[AuntPollyGrey]

For Goodness Sake! This Rhino was NOT killed by poachers, he died of natural causes at a wild-life sanctuary.

[woofgang]

also this https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180926-akashinga-all-women-rangers-in-africa-fighting-poaching

[emmie]

but most rhino's have been killed by poachers, same as elephants.

[woofgang]

APG I think the sadness is for the loss of a subspecies

[dannyk13]

apg //I don't think its a heart-breaking photo,//
Neither do I, just posted how the keeper must have been affected by the animal's death.

[allenlondon]

Oh dear, I fear the ‘it’s only an animal’ cry might soon be heard.

How animals feel loss, how some cope with death, is a mystery to us, but they ARE sentient beings.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls, or indeed for what the bell tolls.

[iluvmargie]

That's such a moving picture allen, so happy this wonderful creature was surrounded by love and care. Crying here and I've got to go out. Will have to compose myself first!

[Canary42]

On the same day the rhino died, several thousand children round the world died of malnutrition. Many of them with no carer to comfort them.

Truly heartbreaking.

Just saying.