The last male Northern White Rhino died in 2018, leaving only 2 females left on this planet. Without a living male they will not be able to reproduce and therefore become extinct in the next few years.
One of the main threats to the population is illegal hunting for the international rhino horn trade. Rhino horn has two main uses: traditional use in Chinese medicine, and ornamental use. For example, rhino horn is a highly prized material for making ornately carved handles for ceremonial daggers (jambiyas) worn in some Middle East countries.