Mystery surrounds zoo's white rhino deaths This is any zoo's worst nightmare. It's bizarre (if, and I hate even saying it, fortunate) that it's only affecting the white rhinos and not the blacks or Indians. Jarkari - any thoughts from the front line, as it were?
Its a tragedy for the zoo, and already being used by the anti-zoo lobby against zoos. I think it was some form of clostridial disease the Rinos at AZ had, which was present in the soil.
Its a tragedy for the zoo, and already being used by the anti-zoo lobby against zoos. I think it was some form of clostridial disease the Rinos at AZ had, which was present in the soil.
Such a tragedy to lose breeding age females as well - Aluka, Azizi, Intombi and Amira are the rhinos that have died. TWPZ have had some rhino calves die before birth recently and some keepers were thinking it may have been due to a virus carried in fox droppings.
Do you know what animals are left? Are they the breeding male, his son and the daughter born in 2008?
I thought there would be 4 animals left - please correct me if im wrong; Khulu (m) WB Umfana (m) WB Mopani (f) WB - from Monarto 2011 (swap with Umqali) Nadira (f) CB Dubbo 2008 - Umqali x Umfana
This is terrible and represents a huge loss to the gene pool of the animals in the region. Amira, a calf born in 2005 was one of two daughters of Thomas, one of the zoos original white rhinos. (from before the regional importation) now her sister, Inyetti is his only calf. She is at Australia Zoo.
Truly an awful tragedy - for the rhinos and for the keepers and for the region's excellent work with this species. Spare a thought also for the Species Coordinator, Samantha Kudeweh at Hamilton Zoo. She lives and breathes White Rhino - she will be devastated also. I think that jones is right - I thought that TWPZ had a herd of eight.
Oh, the news reported 2.1 alive and ISIS says that they had 2.5, but I didn't know about the Monarto female.
The test results have come back and are 'inconclusive'. The good news is however that the other animal seem to be appearing and coping well and should be on exhibit in a few months.
Also, TWPZ have said in most news articles and announcements that 'our remaining female....'. I wonder where the other female is then? EDIT: Scratch that idea, four of the females died so therefore there should be only one left (I think).
They must at least know if its viral or bacterial. Without something the antis are going to start suggesting it could be anything. Cheers Khakibob
