Married journalists Boštjan and Maja Prijatelj Videmšek explore in this alarming yet optimistic outing conservationists’ efforts to save the last surviving northern white rhinos, Najin and her daughter Fatu, from extinction. Detailing the forces that have brought the species to the brink, the Videmšeks discuss how a series of wars in Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan led to increased raids on wildlife reserves by poachers, who sell horns on the underground market for use in aphrodisiacs and various “miracle cures.” The rhinos’ habitats have also been ravaged by droughts exacerbated by climate change, which the authors contend “now pose[s] a greater threat to the animals’ wellbeing than the poachers.” The Videmšeks explain that after the last male northern white rhino (Fatu’s father) died in 2018, scientists set about reviving the species through stem cell technology and are hoping to one day artificially grow an embryo and transplant it into a surrogate southern white rhino (neither Najin nor Fatu are able to give birth). The authors’ damning account of how human callousness has driven white rhinos to extinction is balanced by the hopeful exploration of how scientific innovation might yet rescue the animals. The result is a stirring look at one of the world’s most endangered creatures.
— Publishers Weekly
Through visits, observations, and interviews, the authors profile the last two living Northern White rhinos, Najin and her daughter Fatu, along with those working to save the species, including the armed rangers who patrol their conservancy in Kenya. There are no remaining living males, and BioRescue, an international consortium of scientists and conservationists, was tasked with finding a way to resurrect the species from final extinction. Especially captivating is an interview with the BioRescue ethicist regarding the decision to retire Najin from their reproductive efforts. Woven into the narrative is background on what has brought the species to this point, including poaching, civil wars, and climate change. Even if it is possible to extend the species, it is unknown if there will be environment left to sustain them or a living animal to raise them. The authors provide an intriguing introduction to the science, conservation efforts, finances, and politics that are required to attempt to save a species. Whether or not it will be successful remains to be seen, but what is learned along the way makes for a fascinating read.
— Booklist
Boštjan Videmšek and Maja Prijatelj Videmšek have written a majestic, stirring account of the last two Northern White Rhinos left in the world. The story of the ravages of humankinds toll on innocent creatures who have fallen prey to poachers, conflict, and climate change, The Last Two is also an inspiring tale of the best of which our species is capable. From the conservationists in Kenya who care for the mother and daughter rhinos, Najin and Fatu, to the scientists in Italy, Germany, and Japan who are racing against time and daunting odds to snatch the rhinos from extinctions terrible grasp. Written with urgency and empathy and illustrated with stirring photos by Matjaž Krivic, The Last Two is at once a chronicle of disaster and hope.
— Kelly Horan, The Boston Globe
Videmsek and Prijatelj are two of the worlds leading investigative journalists, with decades of experience in the field and numerous awards between them. They have often covered wars and conflict zones in the past, and this book combines their interest in the environment with their significant chops as war reporters. The Last Two is a hugely important book for anyone interested in the environment and saving endangered species from extinction, too often at the hands of humans. This is where the conflict zone meets ecology. Thankfully, though there is much darkness, this is ultimately a beautiful story of hope in saving one of the Earths most magnificent creatures.
— Noah Charney, PhD, best-selling author of “The 12-Hour Art Expert”
