5-Day-Old Rhino Calf Dies of Internal Injuries in Australia Zoo

A 5-day-old rhino calf that was born in captivity in an Australian zoo recently passed away from internal injuries.

At Australia's Werribee Open Range Zoo, Kipenzi, a southern white rhinoceros, gave birth in captivity upon completing 16 weeks of pregnancy. However, the calf was unable to bond with his mother and died as a result of injuries sustained in "interactions," according to the zoo.

The zoo said in a statement that the female calf experienced a neurological episode and later died on Saturday night as a result of a cardiac arrest. Zoo veterinarians tried to revive the baby but were unsuccessful.

The demise of any animal is difficult for everyone involved, but every effort was made to make sure the calf was given optimal treatment, according to Mark Pilgrim, director of the zoo.

Southern White Rhinos

The two subspecies of white rhinoceros are the northern white rhinos and the southern white rhinos. Due to widespread hunting and land clearing in the late 19th century, southern white rhinos-which are found in the wild almost entirely in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Kenya-nearly went extinct. In 1895, South Africa was the only known location for the remaining 20 to 50 individuals.

From 17,500 in 2007 to 18,064 in December 2017, this population has increased significantly across several African nations and in numerous zoos all over the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has now designated the southern white rhino as "near threatened" due to the current decline in their populations. The species' main threat is poaching by hunters who want to sell their distinctive horns in the ivory and traditional medicine trade.

Demise of a 5-Day-Old Rhino Calf

 A female rhino only reproduces once every two to three years and carries each calf for almost a year and a half, according to Animal Diversity Web. Additionally, this calf was the zoo's first Southern white rhino birth in nearly ten years. These factors make the death of the calf more tragic.

On their Facebook page, the Owner of Werribee Open Range Zoo, Zoos Victoria, said that the birth of the rhino calf was a significant milestone, not only for the zoo but for the preservation of its species in the Australasian region.

There are thought to be 10,080 rhinos left in the wild, and they are seriously threatened by poaching as well as the illegal trade in rhino horn.

Also Read: Rhinos Down to 400 as Poaching Intensifies in Botswana 

Internal Injuries, Cardiac Arrest, Mommy Issues

The University of Melbourne Veterinarian School's necropsy of the calf revealed that her cardiac arrest was probably caused by blood clots created by a broken scapula or collar bone. The mother, Kipenzi, had never given birth before this calf. The calf suffered injuries dealt by her mother, including the broken collar bone, because the Kipenzi and the calf were unable to form a strong bond in the hours following the birth.

Although the calf was to be gradually reintroduced to her mother after being separated from her for checks and additional feeding, her injuries led to fatal blood clots, Newsweek reports.

Related Article: World's Most Endangered Species: 2 Young Javan Rhinos Seen in Indonesia National Park