Captain of the Mumbai Indians cricket team and one of the most successful batsman in the Indian Premier League, Rohit Sharma, visited Ol Pejeta on the 16th and 17th September 2015 to meet the last male northern white rhino in the world, Sudan. His visit was part of a campaign called “Stars 4 the last male standing” initiated by Yaqoob Muhammad and Hamid Hussain – which will hopefully see more celebrities come to Ol Pejeta to raise awareness about the plight of the northern white rhino. Sharma has a huge following both in India and around the world, and brought the story of Sudan to hundreds of people.
Photo: Teeku Patel, Sokomoto Images
Holding the highest individual score in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Rohit Sharma is as enthusiastic about conservation as he is about cricket. Upon announcing his visit to Kenya to meet Sudan, he Tweeted ‘can’t wait to meet you big guy! Let’s help save this species from extinction!” Sharma also holds the record for being the only player to score 264 in ODIs.
Sudan was moved to Kenya from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic along with three other northern white rhinos in 2009. All previous breeding attempts in the Zoo had been futile, and the hope was that the climate and rich grasslands of Ol Pejeta, a native habitat for the animals, would provide them with more favourable breeding conditions. All natural breeding attempts – including attempts to cross-breed northern whites with the more populous southern white rhino – have proved fruitless. The only way now to ensure the survival of the northern white rhino subspecies is to raise $800,000 for IVF and other forms of assisted reproduction, and time is running out. At 43 years of age, Sudan’s clock is ticking.
As well as raising awareness for Sudan, Sharma also met Baraka the blind black rhino and the Ol Pejeta K-9 Unit – to raise Ol Pejeta’s profile to his audience across the world.
Photo: Teeku Patel, Sokomoto Images
“Wonderful trip to Africa for a great cause! It’s sad how many animals are on the brink of extinction” said Sharma on Twitter after his experience on Ol Pejeta.
Photo: Teeku Patel, Sokomoto Images
It is hoped that Sharma’s visit, jointly sponsored by Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Turkish Airlines and Serena Hotels, will inspire people across the world to get involved in rhino conservation – either by donating online, starting conversations, or planning a trip to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.