An image that moved millions around the world shows Joseph Wachira gently comforting Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, in his final moments at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Captured by photographer Ami Vitale, this powerful photograph earned the People’s Choice Award at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, becoming a symbol of both love and loss in the natural world.

Sudan, once a symbol of strength and survival, spent his final years surrounded by devoted caretakers who worked tirelessly to protect him. At the time of his death in March 2018, he was suffering from age-related health complications, including arthritis. Despite his pain, the team at Ol Pejeta ensured he lived his last days in peace and dignity, cared for by those who had grown to see him not just as an animal, but as a friend.

His passing marked the functional extinction of the northern white rhino subspecies, leaving behind only two surviving females. For many, Sudan’s death represented far more than the loss of one species—it was a sobering reflection of humanity’s impact on nature.

Photographer Ami Vitale, who witnessed his final moments, described it as one of the most difficult experiences of her life. “We were not just witnessing the death of a majestic creature,” she reflected, “but also the extinction of a subspecies, and in many ways, the loss of a part of ourselves. Our fate is deeply connected to that of the animals and the natural world. Without them, we lose our imagination, our wonder, and our sense of what is possible.”

Sudan’s story stands as a haunting reminder of what is at stake if conservation efforts fail. His image—one of tenderness, grief, and humanity—continues to inspire action and reflection on the urgency to protect what remains of Earth’s wildlife.

Even in his final moments, Sudan reminded the world of its responsibility: to ensure that no other species is allowed to disappear in silence.