k9angel Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Four endangered white rhinoceroses have died from a mystery illness at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. It is understood each of the rhinos exhibited signs of stumbling before they died. Zoo vets are liaising with specialists in Africa and North America and a number of tests have been carried out to work out what has caused the deaths. The three remaining rhinos from the herd have been put into quarantine and are being monitored for signs of illness. One of the dead animals is Amira, a calf which was hand-raised by zoo keepers. A spokeswoman for the zoo says no other animals at the park, including the black rhinoceroses, have been affected. http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/latest/a/-/latest/13222163/zoo-investigates-mystery-rhino-deaths/ How sad. R.I.P. rhinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 That is such a great loss - not only to the keepers, but the population I hope it is 'only' something like mould in food, or a plant toxin ..and not an illness which may spread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Willow Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 That's incredibly sad. My first though was poisoning of some sort....not necessarily deliberate, but the description of stumbling made me think that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion 01 Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 So sad, I hope they find out the cause soon, as it would be terrible if the others had the same fate. The keepers must be devastated. Often watch programs and the zoo keepers and handlers really love the animals they are in charge of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunagirll Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 One of the suspects is Hendra, let's hope that isn't the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chequeredblackdog Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 So sad! I thought poisoning too when I first heard it. I live close-ish (in orange) and have seen Amira quite a few times. Poor Rhinos, I hope the others will be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I hope it is 'only' something like mould in food That's the first thing I thought as well, Pers. Staggers syndrome from mouldy food. Not hard to imagine in this wet weather we've had all year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I hope it is 'only' something like mould in food That's the first thing I thought as well, Pers. Staggers syndrome from mouldy food. Not hard to imagine in this wet weather we've had all year. Yep, mouldy hay was my first thought. Their keepers must be devastated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 One of the suspects is Hendra, let's hope that isn't the case I believe this has been ruled out along with a couple of other nasties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Oh wow- I saw them less than a month ago. I think it was just when all this started Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripley Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Sadly zoos may be the only place to see rhinos in the future. Nearly 200 wild rhinos were poached in South Africa alone last year, it's out of control over there now due to the demand of rhino horn from Vietnam this time as well as China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milly2 Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Very sad,I hope they find the cause quickly so no other Rhino's are affected, Rest in Peace Rhino's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 what are the symptoms of botulism? I recall lots of valuable thoroughbred horses dying awful deaths from it at the sales one year. So sad for the zoo to lose the rhinos, I hope they can find and stop it happening to anymore, we cant afford to lose them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizabella Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Very, very sad. It must be especially worrying as the zoo houses other species of rhino that may or may not be at risk as well. The situation facing wild rhinos is horrific at the moment, the captive population must be so precious. How terrible for the keepers as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sempre (Haylee) Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 that is so sad and I can only imagine the shock their handlers are in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Just terrible, I hope they fidn the cause very quickly. RIP Rhino's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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