The death of a rare white rhino at the San Diego Zoo is a big cause for concern, because there were only 6 of the animals left on earth before. Now there are only 5 rare white rhinos left anywhere on earth, and the dwindling numbers spell extinction unless something drastic happens. 44 year old Angalifu was receiving treatment for issues due to his age. The remaining animals can be found in Africa, the Czech Republic, and the San Diego Zoo still has an elderly female. According to the zoo mammal curator Randy Rieches “Angalifu’s death is a tremendous loss to all of us. Not only because he was well beloved here at the Park but also because his death brings this wonderful species one step closer to extinction. Northern white rhinos have been nearly eliminated because of poaching in Africa and none of those remaining are reproductive.”
Eventually the rare white rhino will become extinct, it is just a matter of time. The death at the San Diego Zoo just takes the species one step closer to complete elimination. In time genetics researchers may find a way to help put off this event, but unless science advances considerably in the next decade or so many children will never get the experience of seeing the rare white rhino even in a zoo. The number of animals was severely depleted when poachers killed them in large numbers, and only protective efforts and preservation steps have allowed the few remaining white rhinos to survive.