The world’s last male northern white rhinoceros died on Monday at the age of 45, leaving two of his female species behind.

Named Sudan, the male rhino that was also called the ‘gentle giant’ lived in Ol Pejeta conservancy in Kenya was euthanized on Monday due to serious illness. Sudan’s death marked the death of the world’s last white male rhino, but the rhino has left behind his daughter, Najin, and his granddaughter, Fatu.

From being 500 in number back in 1973 to being only three in 2015, the species of northern white rhinos have been destroyed badly by uncontrolled hunting in the colonial ear, mostly because of their unique horns, reported The Guardian.

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Somehow, Sudan survived and was taken to a zoo in Czech Republic and later moved to Africa where he ‘stole the hearts of many with his dignity and strength,’ according to Ol Pejeta conservancy’s workers. “He was a gentle giant. His personality was just amazing and given his size, a lot of people were afraid of him. But there was nothing mean about him,” said Elodie Sampere, Ol Pejeta’s representative.

However, in order to preserve the species from being completely extinct, genetic material was collected from the rhino after his condition worsened and he became unable to stand. The park’s staff hopes that via ‘advanced cellular technologies’ and in vitro fertilization, the species might be able to regenerate.

As per Futurism, because none of the two female rhinos are healthy enough to give birth, they would use other methods such as surrogacy.