The last two: Najin and Fatu

Boštjan Videmšek, a multi-award winning journalist (including for the best book of the year Plan B), and Maja Prijatelj Videmšek, a journalist who writes about environmental and conservation issues, together with renowned photographer Matjaž Krivic, set out on a journey to save the species to which Najin and her daughter Fatu, the last northern white rhinoceros, belong. The last members of their species live in the Ol Pejeta reserve in central Kenya, surrounded by watchtowers and strictly guarded by elite security guards.

There is no longer any chance for the natural continuation of the northern white rhinoceros species, as the last male died years ago.That's why scientists from around the world came together years ago to form the BioRescue consortium and focus on artificial insemination procedures and stem cell technologies. Since neither Najin nor Fatu are capable of conceiving, they decided to use artificial insemination by transferring embryos into surrogate mothers from related southern white rhinos. The first embryo transfers - with stem cell technology the only hope for the resurrection and preservation of the species - will take place this year or next.

The Last Two tells the story of Najin and Fatu, which is also the story of the modern extinction of many animal species. This is a result of wars, poaching, the global wildlife market, climate change, and economic and geopolitical backdrops. At the same time, it is a story of the efforts of scientists from around the world to preserve the species(s).The last two are a hymn to nature conservation, intransigence, and the coexistence of humans and wild animals in a time increasingly marked by climate change.

Browse the first 35 pages of the book: http://www.galarna.si/img/products/najin_fatu.pdf

Softcover, 15.5 x 21 cm, 349 pages.

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

"A true story about the rescue of an extinct species in the wild, bordering on science fiction. A lesson that humanity must never forget." – Miha Krofel, large carnivore researcher

"We know how to ask ourselves deep questions about life, but we have learned nothing about the art of preserving it. In the exceptionally conceived book The Last Two, empathetic investigative journalists Maja and Boštjan show themselves as civilized savages who sense the coming era of ecology, while also witnessing the most modern scientific efforts to prevent humanity from tearing the last two representatives of the mighty northern white rhinoceros from the beautiful embroidery of life." – Janez Penca, translator and publisher

"I have never read true stories that are sadder and yet so beautiful, that teach me so much about survival. This is a story about how beautiful and special animals are and how cruel and kind an animal a person can be. This book is Noah's Ark of Hope." – Irena Štaudohar, author of What Does a Woman Want?