Rhino Dies At Zoo, Leaving Only 3 Critically Endangered Rhinos Left On Earth

Nola, a northern white rhino has died, leaving only three northern white rhinos left in the entire world.

The San Diego Zoo announced Nola’s passing on Sunday, via its Facebook page. The rhino was a 41-year-old female which had lived at the zoo since 1989, according to NBC Chicago. She originally came from a zoo in what is is now the Czech Republic.

“This is a very difficult loss for the animal care staff who worked with her, our volunteers, guests, and to her species worldwide.”

Nola was euthanized after suffering a bacterial infection and suffering from old age in general. The zoo said the decision to euthanize the 4,500-pound rhino was “difficult” but the staff was more determined than ever before to end animal extinction.

Nola the rhino had undergone surgery and other procedures before in order to treat the infection near her right hip, but her condition only worsened as veterinarians tried to save her life.

Nola also suffered from arthritis in her advanced age, according to the Associated Press.

Nola was a favorite of visitors to the zoo and to fans from afar. Many people expressed their condolences to the zoo and shared memories of Nola through Facebook.

The San Diego Zoo mourns the loss of its only northern white rhino and said, “You will be deeply, dearly missed.”

The three remaining rhinos live on a preserve in Kenya and are critically endangered.

Poaching the rhino for its horn has depleted the northern white rhino to such a devastating number.

Only one male northern white rhino is left in the world. In order to discourage poachers, his horn has been cut off by conservationists. Sudan is a 42-year-old rhino and lives in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya with the other two remaining female rhinos. They are constantly under a 24-hour armed guard.

The average lifespan for a wild rhino is usually about 40 years. Because of Sudan’s age, he is unable to reproduce sexually.

Scientists hope to preserve the northern white rhinos by impregnating southern white rhinos with northern white rhino embryos. Artificial insemination using sperm from Sudan and eggs from the other northern white rhino females will help to make more northern white rhino embryos.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has six young southern white rhinos which will become the surrogate mothers to the future northern white rhino embryos. Scientists hope to have a new baby white rhino within the next two decades.

NBC San Diego reports that the Frozen Zoo, in a joint effort with the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, gives the future hope to see animals currently on the brink of extinction by providing viable stem cells to hopefully repopulate species as technology advances.

“Multiple steps must be accomplished to reach the goal of establishing a viable population that can be reintroduced into the species range in Africa, where it is now extinct,” explained Oliver Ryder Ph.D., Director of Genetics for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research through a statement. “A first step involves sequencing the genomes of northern white rhinos to clarify the extent of genetic divergence from their closest relative, the southern white rhino.”

Almost a year ago, the world sadly lost the only other male northern white rhino due to cancer. Angalifu was 44-years-old and lived at the Safari Park before he passed away in December, 2014.

[Photo by San Diego Safari Park/Facebook]