Naylor said as Zambezi was approaching the end of his natural lifespan, vet and keeper teams have monitored him very closely in recent years.
Veterinarian Adam Naylor said Zambezi’s condition made it difficult for him to eat.
Photo / Facebook / Auckland Zoo
“As part of his care, he has received regular health assessments with the support of veterinary dental specialists. Dental disease is a common age-related health issue in rhinos; a result of continuous chewing and years of cumulative wear, particularly in long-lived individuals.”
Naylor said that euthanasia before Zambezi started to suffer was the most humane option.
“It’s never an easy decision to do this, and one we never take lightly, but, by acting now, we have been able to give him a peaceful and dignified end to his life.”
With adult female Jamila, he had three offspring: females Nyah (5) and Amali (3), and male Zuka (1) at the zoo.
Last week, the zoo euthanised its last subantarctic seal.
It said it could not maintain the environment needed for the 20-year-old named Ōrua, who was nearing the end of his lifespan.
– RNZ