With the Sudan's death, the last male of the Northern White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum cottoni, which was sacrificed for its delicate state of health, which was the hope to reproduce the sub-species; It reminds me of the opportunity I had to do a research work with a White Rhinoceros, but of the southern subspecies Ceratotherium simum simum
This specimen is a female (Lola is called) that is in the Baradida Zoo and Botanical Park, which is located in my hometown Barquisimeto, the project was based on looking for an alternative diet that would cover all the nutritional requirements of the rhinoceros in captivity, this due to the high cost of the animal's diet; those who are from Venezuela or know the difficult political, social and especially economic situation that the country is going through, will understand that keeping an exotic animal like a rhinoceros is extremely high and not only that, in the park there are several species of felines ( Tigers, Lions, Panthers), Elephants, Giraffes, Hippopotamuses (two females, one male and one newborn), as well as countless monkeys, birds and other types of mammals, which must be maintained and added that the park does not receives any kind of help from the authorities and the current government of the country.
I must confess, that before the investigation I was against the zoos and places where they have animals in captivity, because they feel that the animals were created to be in their natural habitat freely, but during the investigation that I carried out, I understood that these types of sites seek to maintain and preserve these species that day after day are attacked by the worst enemy that the planet earth can have, US.
For the simple fact of vanity, these animals are killed, either by their skin or their horns, in the case of the rhinoceros, as well as by the destruction of their habitat or the various armed conflicts that occur in the countries where they are found. It is very sad, to know that future generations will not be able to have the opportunity to know many species of animals, since their ancestors, that is, YOU, ME and ALL of us who live on earth today, we eliminate them without any kind of mercy .
Even though genetics has advanced and there are small hopes of being able to obtain new individuals through cloning or artificial insemination, I think we should be aware of the actions we are taking towards the place where we live, since in the not too distant future the same planet will take charge of extinguishing its worst enemy.
xoxo DR