17-Foot-Tall Sculpture Depicting Endangered Rhinos Moves to MetroTech Commons
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN – The Last Three, the 17-foot-tall bronze sculpture depicting the last three northern white rhinos in the world stacked atop one another has been relocated from Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn.
Originally installed at Astor Place in March 2018, the life-sized artwork was created by artists Gillie and Marc Schattner to raise awareness to the imminent extinction of the northern white rhinoceros, raise funds to protect the animals, and encourage viewers to join an online petition. “From a population of 40,000 there are only two northern white rhinos left, making them the rarest animals on earth,” the artists’ website states.
Though their horns are made of keratin, the same material as a fingernail, some in countries including China and Vietnam believe they contain medicinal benefits, leading to the poaching of the northern white rhinos “to imminent extinction.” The artists hope the sculpture will lead viewers to their website where they can write goodbye messages to the two last surviving white rhinos, Najin and her daughter Fatu. Sudan, the last male white rhino and father of Najin, died on March 20 at the age of 45.