SAN DIEGO — One of the last northern white rhinos in the world has died in San Diego.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park says Nola, a 41-year-old female, was euthanized Sunday after her condition deteriorated. She’d been at the park since 1989.
The geriatric rhino had arthritis and was being treated for a bacterial infection linked to an abscess in her hip.
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The zoo says Nola had surgery on Nov. 13 to drain the abscess but her health began to deteriorate about a week ago. She worsened over the past 24 hours and vets decided they had to euthanize her.
Northern white rhinos are believed to be on the brink of extinction because of poaching. Only three others are known to remain – all elderly. They’re in a Kenyan preserve.
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