Only surviving male northern white rhino put under armed guard

A team of 40 rangers guards the rhino 24 hours a day in a bid to protect it from poachers

The world's last surviving male northern white rhino is now under 24-hour armed guard in Kenya in a bid to protect it from poachers.

Sudan, the last surviving northern white rhino is guarded day and night by a group of rangers who risk their lives everyday to protect the rhino from poachers lured by the rising price of ivory.



Earlier, Sudan’s horns were cut off to protect him but keepers in the Kenyan reserve of Ol Pojeta still fear for his life.

The 43-year-old who could live until his 50s is the last chance for any future northern white rhino calves.

Sudan was moved, along with two female rhinos from a zoo in the Czech Republic in December 2009.



The reserve, which specialises in the conservation of rhinos, was chosen because of its successful breeding programme with black rhinos. However, all attempts of breeding have been unsuccessful.

Last year, the world’s second male northern white rhino Suni died at the same reserve leaving five of the species in the world of which three in Kenya are in particular danger.

One of the rangers guarding Sudan said the team regularly risk their lives to keep the rhino safe.



“With the rising demand for rhino horn and ivory, we face many poaching attempts and while we manage to counter a large number of these, we often risk our lives in the line of duty,” Simor Irungu said.

Just over half a century ago, there were 2,000 northern white rhinos; but 1984 there were only 15, all in the DRC, according to the World Wildlife Fund.



However, conservationists managed to bring the population up to at least 30 animals less than a decade later.

But once again poaching rose and the entire park was emptied. The last northern white rhinos were spotted in 2006.

The extinction of rhinos has been increased by growing demand for ivory especially in the Far East, where it is believed to be a cure for several ailments.



Rangers have taken steps to deter the poachers, but they still fear it may not be enough.

However, keeping them safe is a costly business, a Rangers team of 40 cost £75,000 for six months.



The team is usually paid with money raised through tourism but with a decline in that owing to instability and fear of Ebola, Ol Pejeta’s team hopes raise the money for security through crowd funding.



“We are aiming to raise enough to safeguard the wages for the forty strong team for the next six months,” the appeal read.

“This is £75,000. Any which way, every single pound contributed will help secure the rangers, that secure the rhino, for us and for future generations,” it added.

This story originally appeared on the Daily Mail.