COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Zoo is mourning the loss of their black rhino, Rosie.
Rosie had several geriatric problems due to her old age.
She was humanely euthanized after her condition began rapidly declining.
Rosie was born at the San Francisco Zoo on Jan. 6, 1990 and has been in Columbus since November 2009.
She was 30-years-old when she died and exceeded the median life expectancy for black rhinos living in zoos, which is 19-years-old.
Rosie did not have any calves and was the only rhino at the Columbus Zoo.
"The loss of any animal is hard, but Rosie's passing weighs especially heavy on our hearts today as she was special to many. I can't imagine anyone not experiencing an emotional connection with Rosie when they saw her up close. Those experiences were instrumental in leading people to care and get involved with rhino conservation. She was an incredible animal and a wonderful ambassador for rhinos, which face many threats in their native range. She lived a very long life, thanks to the expert care she received, and though we will miss her dearly, her legacy will continue to inspire our work in saving wildlife and wild places," said Columbus Zoo President/CEO Tom Stalf.
Currently, there are estimated to be approximately 5,000 black rhinos remaining in their native habitat.
