This Expert Cares for Endangered Rhinos

James Mwenda is the caretaker for the last two northern white rhinos on Earth, both females, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, a country in Africa. In 2018, the last male northern white rhinoceros died there. The rhino’s name was Sudan—and he became a symbol of the plight of all rhinos. The animals are threatened by illegal hunting. We spoke with Mwenda about his mission to speak out for rhinos.

A: It’s joyful because we are able to give hope to this embattled species, but it’s also sad knowing they face extinction. I felt Sudan somehow knew he was one of the last of his kind. One evening, I saw a tear drop from his eye. To me it was a sign of an emptiness he felt inside. I vowed then to be his voice.

A: Sudan was a red-light warning about how much we are harming the planet. He was a symbol not only of rhinos, but also of the many plants and animals that face extinction because of things like habitat loss and illegal hunting. He was an example of what can happen if we don’t take action to protect species.