Jane Healy, Auckland Zoo
Auckland Zoo is today saying a sad haere rā and paying tribute to elderly Southern white rhino Zambezi – a laid-back gentle giant who was an exceptional father and a star contributor to the regional breeding programme for his species.
The 36-year-old much loved and iconic member of the Zoo whānau was euthanised yesterday due to deteriorating age-related health conditions.
“As an older animal approaching the end of his natural lifespan, our veterinary and keeper teams have monitored Zambezi very closely in recent years. As part of his care and management, 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,” says Zoo veterinarian, Dr Adam Naylor
“We’ve been able to maintain Zambezi’s welfare through a combination of dental procedures, medication, husbandry, and dietary support. However, over a number of months, we have seen a deterioration in his dental health, he has had increased difficulty eating and his body condition has gradually declined as a result, making humane euthanasia the kindest decision for him now before he started to suffer. 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 before the point where we could no longer successfully manage his discomfort.”
Previously at Hamilton Zoo, Zambezi relocated to Auckland Zoo in 2007 where with adult female Jamila, he has successfully fathered three offspring - females Nyah (5) and Amali (3), and male Zuka (1).
“Zambezi has been incredibly important to the regional breeding programme and leaves an impressive legacy,” says the Zoo’s Senior Curator of Mammals and the Australasian breeding programme coordinator for Southern white rhinoceros, Warren Spencer. “He has successfully fathered a number of calves at both Hamilton Zoo and Auckland Zoo who will hopefully go on to have their own offspring in the future. In this way, Zambezi has helped to secure the future of the Australasian population”.
“As part of our Zoo’s wider purpose, he also played a key role in giving millions of our visitors the opportunity to experience and connect with these extraordinary African mammals that remain dependent on extensive conservation efforts in the wild to protect them from poaching and habit loss.”
For Ungulates team leader Michael Hepher and his dedicated team, caring for Zambezi has been both a privilege and a joy.
“Zambezi was an especially good natured, laid-back, and gentle rhino who had a very calming influence on the rest of the rhino crash, and we all learnt a lot from him” says Michael. Those in our team who have been a part of his life longer than I, have witnessed his exceptional patience over the years – not only with his three calves, but also with Jamila, who he was always respectful towards -especially when she made it very clear she didn’t want his company!
“As part of our science of care training programme – Zambezi was always curious and willing to learn new behaviours that enabled us to closely monitor his health and wellbeing through his weekly weigh-ins, body condition checks, blood tests, and regular dental exams.
“While the Zoo’s rhino crash will not be the same without Zambezi and he will be greatly missed, he will long be remembered via his offspring Nyah, Amali and Zuka, and we feel very grateful to have been a part of his life.”
