World’s last male northern white rhino gets help from Tinder
NAIROBI, Kenya — The world’s last male northern white rhino has joined the Tinder dating app as wildlife experts make a last-chance breeding effort to keep his species alive.
“I don’t mean to be too forward, but the fate of the species literally depends on me,” the rhino’s profile says. “I perform well under pressure.”
The campaign called “The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World,” by a Kenyan wildlife conservancy and the dating app, focuses on the rhino named Sudan.
The 43-year-old and his last two female companions are unable to breed naturally because of issues that include old age.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the app aim to raise $9 million for research into breeding methods, including in-vitro fertilization, in an effort to save the species from extinction.
“We partnered with Ol Pejeta conservancy to give the most eligible bachelor in the world a chance to meet his match,” said Matt David, head of communications and marketing at Tinder. “We are optimistic given Sudan’s profile will be seen on Tinder in 190 countries and over 40 languages.”
The conservancy’s website had crashed by Tuesday evening.
Sudan lives at the conservancy, protected by guards around the clock, with the two females, Najin and Fatu.
“The plight that currently faces the northern white rhinos is a signal to the impact that humankind is having on many thousands of other species across the planet,” said Richard Vigne, the conservancy’s chief executive officer. “Ultimately, the aim will be to reintroduce a viable population of northern white rhino back into the wild, which is where their true value will be realized.”
City Attorney Dennis Herrera, at podium, with his staff beside him, talks about a federal judge’s order blocking any attempt by the Trump administration to withhold money from “sanctuary cities” during a news conference at City Hall Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in San Francisco. A federal judge on Tuesday said the president has no authority to attach new conditions to federal spending. U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued the preliminary injunction in two lawsuits, one brought by the city of San Francisco, the other by Santa Clara County, against an executive order targeting communities that protect immigrants from deportation. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
City Attorney Dennis Herrera, at podium, with his staff beside him, talks about a federal judge’s order blocking any attempt by the Trump administration to withhold money from “sanctuary cities” during a news conference at City Hall Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in San Francisco. A federal judge on Tuesday said the president has no authority to attach new conditions to federal spending. U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued the preliminary injunction in two lawsuits, one brought by the city of San Francisco, the other by Santa Clara County, against an executive order targeting communities that protect immigrants from deportation. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)