Recently Ol Pejeta conservancy became the new home for four Northern White Rhinos (thought to be 50% of the World's population) which were transferred from a Czech zoo in the hope that they may breed more successfully in a semi-wild enviroment. The last wild Northern White Rhinos were to be found in Garamba NP in the Democratic Republic of Congo but these are all now believed to have been poached.

Recent studies suggest that the Northern and Southern populations of White Rhino became separated over a million years ago. There are subtle but distinct differences in their cranial morphology and dentition whilst genetic studies indicate differences in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA which together support the elevation of Northern White Rhinos to specific status (see: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref_files/1271158453.pdf ). If this becomes generally accepted then the World will have six and not five extant rhino species. The bitter irony is that the Northern White Rhino -which may now be re-named the Nile Rhino (Ceratotherium cottoni), might just have survived long enough to be described as a new species before it is declared extinct!