justin mott | wildlife photojournalist |Northern White Rhinos

The Last of Their Kind: Documenting the Northern White Rhino’s Fight for Survival

Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
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Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Northern_White_Rhino_Extinction_WIldlife_Photojournalist_Justin_Mott_Ol_Pejeta_020.JPG
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
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Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
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Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
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Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Northern_White_Rhino_Extinction_WIldlife_Photojournalist_Justin_Mott_Ol_Pejeta_050.JPG
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Northern_White_Rhino_Extinction_WIldlife_Photojournalist_Justin_Mott_Ol_Pejeta_052.JPG
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Northern_White_Rhino_Extinction_WIldlife_Photojournalist_Justin_Mott_Ol_Pejeta_065.JPG
Northern_White_Rhino_Extinction_WIldlife_Photojournalist_Justin_Mott_Ol_Pejeta_066.JPG
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
Experience Justin Mott’s powerful documentary photography project on the Northern White Rhino, featuring the last two remaining individuals, their armed guardians, and the conservation efforts fighting to save their species.
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The Plight of the Northern White Rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy | Nanyuki, Kenya

In 2018, Sudan—the last male Northern White Rhino—passed away at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya, marking a devastating moment in conservation history. His death signified the near extinction of his subspecies, leaving only two remaining individuals in the world.

Nearby, Fatu and Najin—the last two Northern White Rhinos—live under the watchful care of conservationists at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This mother-daughter pair are the final guardians of their species, a lineage that has been decimated by relentless poaching and habitat loss. Their horns, falsely believed to have medicinal properties, have made them prime targets in the illegal wildlife trade, particularly in markets across China, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Life Under Protection at Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Fatu and Najin inhabit a secured enclosure within Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a 360-square-kilometer wildlife sanctuary renowned for its pioneering rhino conservation efforts. Here, they roam freely yet remain under 24/7 armed surveillance by the National Police Reservists (NPR). These elite rangers dedicate their lives to safeguarding the rhinos, often facing direct threats from poachers.

In 2018, a confrontation between NPR rangers and poachers at Ol Pejeta ended in a fatal shootout, underscoring the extreme risks involved in wildlife protection. Despite such dangers, the reserve’s caretakers and anti-poaching units remain unwavering in their mission to prevent the extinction of the Northern White Rhino.

Beyond security, a dedicated team of caretakers provides daily care, monitoring, and education programs for visitors. Their work not only ensures the survival of Fatu and Najin but also raises global awareness about rhino conservation and the urgent need to combat wildlife crime.

The Human Guardians Behind the Conservation Effort

The protectors of Ol Pejeta Conservancy live in a remote bush camp, within sight of Fatu and Najin. They sacrifice time with their families, working 20 days on-site with only six days off, to ensure the last Northern White Rhinos remain safe. Their resilience and dedication serve as a symbol of humanity’s responsibility to correct past wrongs and fight for the survival of endangered species.

To support the ongoing Northern White Rhino conservation efforts at Ol Pejeta, consider donating through the link below. Your contribution directly helps fund security operations, scientific research, and long-term survival strategies for these critically endangered rhinos.

Part of the Kindred Guardians Project

This story is part of my Kindred Guardians Project, an ongoing self-funded documentary series that highlights individuals around the world who dedicate their lives to helping animals in need. Each chapter explores a unique human-animal bond, shedding light on the critical conservation challenges facing wildlife today.

Through this project, I aim to raise awareness, celebrate conservation heroes, and give endangered species a voice through documentary photography. All images and text from this series are donated to featured organizations and are available for purchase by media outlets worldwide.

This project and all of Kindred Guardians is being photographed with Leica cameras and lenses, a special thank you to Leica for your support throughout this important project not just on loaner equipment but for exhibiting this week and using in your global Leica Witness Campaign.

For more information about the plight of the Northern White Rhinos and what's being done to help save them from extinction please visit.

Donate to Helping Rhinos.

Learn more Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

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In the Press

wander alone - traileR

Wander Alone chronicles the final chapter of the Northern White Rhinoceros, following Najin and Fatu—the last two living members of their species.

I’m thrilled to share the trailer for a short documentary that holds a special place in my heart, titled Wander Alone. While life delayed its release, this project remains a true labor of love—a heartfelt collaboration with my talented friend Joey Bania and several incredible contributors who generously supported us in bringing this vision to life.

Wander Alone tells the heartbreaking story of the Northern White Rhinoceros. Once abundant across Central Africa, this majestic species has been hunted to the brink of extinction. Today, only two individuals remain, living under constant protection at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

This is more than a story of loss. It’s a meditation on the fragility of life and the profound consequences of humanity’s actions. It explores the solitude of a species struggling to survive in a rapidly changing world and reflects on the collective loneliness we face on a planet increasingly bereft of its more-than-human kin.

The full 10-minute documentary is complete, and we’re currently sharing it within our inner circles to explore options for distribution and festival opportunities. Once we have a clearer direction, I look forward to sharing it with a broader audience.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, head caretaker Zacharia Mutai, and Communications Manager Hetal Gentara for their incredible support and access. A special thanks to Elodie Sampere and Roxanne Mungai, who first granted me access to “the girls” years ago for a photo documentary. Their belief in me and their passion for this cause made this project possible from the very beginning.

Thank you as well to the team at One Thousand Birds for their outstanding sound design: https://otbirds.com.

Last but not least thank you to wife Quynh Anh for being there for me through all this and joining me at Ol Pejeta to help me film this project over the course of several weeks.

If you’re interested in helping with distribution or have suggestions, please email me directly at justin@justinmott.com. I’d be happy to share a private link to the full documentary.

For more information about the plight of the Northern White Rhinos and what's being done to help save them from extinction please visit.

Donate to Helping Rhinos.

Learn more Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

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Orphaned Elephants - Kenya