The world’s oldest member of the critically endangered species of black rhino has passed away in an animal sanctuary at the age of 57.
Fausta the black rhino was brought to a sanctuary in Tanzania following an attack by hyenas that left her wounded.
After the animal had spent decades of her life running around free in the wilderness, the sanctuary officials have decided to keep her to increase her chances of survival.
“Records show that Fausta lived longer than any rhino in the world and survived in the Ngorongoro, free-ranging, for more than 54 years,” the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority revealed.
As the sanctuary officials added, the world’s oldest black rhino has most likely passed away due to natural causes.
“Fausta was first located in the Ngorongoro crater in 1965 by a scientist from the University of Dar Es Salaam, at the age between three and four years,” they added.
“Her health begun to deteriorate in 2016, when we were forced to put the animal in captivity, after several attacks from hyena and severe wounds thereafter.”
While one black rhino life was lost, another one was just recently born at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan.
According to the reports, a black rhino mother gave birth to a healthy black rhino calf on December 24 at 6 in the morning.
“This is a monumental moment for Potter Park Zoo that has taken our staff years of planning and hard work. We are dedicated to conserving rhinos and couldn’t be more excited about this successful black rhino birth,” Cynthia Wagner, the zoo’s director, expressed.
As the officials also revealed, the calf and his mother will be confined and kept from the eyes of the visitors until the spring for their own good.
“As this is Doppsee’s first pregnancy, the animal care and veterinary staff will continue to monitor Doppsee and her calf closely in the next few weeks,” veterinarian Dr. Ronan Eustace added.
“But so far, the rhino calf appears healthy and we have observed frequent nursing shortly after the birth, which is encouraging.”
According to the zoo, the birth signifies an important milestone due to the fact that the species is at tremendous risk of extinction.
Among other causes, black rhinos have become critically endangered due to habitat loss and illegal poaching, prompting conservation centers to come up with joint efforts to secure the future of the species.
As per the official speculations, it is believed that there are only around 5,000 black rhinos left roaming the wild.
What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends and follow us on Facebook for more news and stories!
Replaced!