Just ‘swipe right’ to help protect the northern white rhinos from extinction

Ol Pejeta Conservancy has partnered with Tinder to launch a new campaign to raise awareness about ‘The Most Eligible Bachelor in the World’ a male northern white rhino named Sudan. With the campaign, Tinder users ‘swipe right’ on Sudan’s profile and get directed to a page from which they can donate towards protecting the northern white rhino from extinction.

Per Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the goal of the campaign is to raise $9 million needed to protect Sudan, the only remaining male northern white rhino in the world, and the rest of the northern white rhino population from extinction.

“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. 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,” Said Richard Vigne, CEO, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in a statement.

“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, in a press release. “We are optimistic given Sudan’s profile will be seen on Tinder in 190 countries and over 40 languages.”

Ol Pejeta Conservancy notes that the funds raised will go towards ongoing research into Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) by a consortium of institutions. Once perfected, this technology, in particular in -vitro fertilization (IVF), will aid to achieve successful pregnancies to gradually build up a viable herd of northern white rhinos. If successful, this will be the first time for scientists to carry out artificial reproduction in rhinos.

“This represents the last option to save the species after all previous breeding attempts proved futile,” said Vigne.

The research, which is currently ongoing in the United States, Germany and Japan aims to establish a herd of 10 northern white rhinos after five years using in-vitro fertilization.

“Financial support remains the biggest challenge to this project. At 43 years, Sudan does not have much longer to live. To win this run against time it is very crucial to find major funds as quickly as possible, “said Steven Seet, Head of Press and Communications at the Leibniz-IZW who are part of the research consortium.

Sudan’s Tinder profile

Sudan is not only The Most Eligible Bachelor, but he also boasts a pretty impressive profile. Not only is he a pretty fine specimen of a rhino, but he has his own personal team of armed bodyguards, and has appeared in a string of international documentaries and news stories. Sudan lives his bachelor life at Ol Pejeta Conservancy with his two female northern white rhino counterparts, Najin and Fatu. They have been unable to breed naturally due to a range of issues including old age. However, there are 17,000 other potential female southern white rhino suitors.

Sudan has been on Tinder since April 25th. Have you had the pleasure of running into him?