Najin and her daughter Fatu are the last two known northern white rhinos. Both live under protection at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, with no surviving male available for natural breeding.
That is why the subspecies is described as functionally extinct. It does not mean every white rhinoceros has disappeared: southern white rhinos still exist. The distinction matters when describing a conservation crisis this severe.
Scientists and conservation teams are working on assisted reproduction using preserved reproductive material, with the aim of producing northern white rhino calves through surrogate mothers. The effort offers a possibility, not a guaranteed recovery. While that research continues, caring for Najin and Fatu remains essential. Their situation shows how protecting animals and developing new scientific methods can become connected when a population has dwindled to its final members.
Sources: Ol Pejeta: Najin and Fatu