Rhino dies in zoo

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 6. An Indian rhinoceros, Srinivas, died at the Nehru Zoological Park here, on Monday, of a suspected colic ailment. The staff strength in the zoo was minimal on the day as it was a closed holiday.

`It died of complications and only the post-mortem examination to be conducted on Tuesday, can give a clear picture of the cause of its death,' the zoo curator, Mr. A.V. Joseph, told The Hindu.

Mr. Joseph said the 21-year-old rhino, nicknamed Raju by the zoo staff, was born in captivity in the zoo in 1981 and was one of the healthiest animals. `It took ill suddenly in the morning and died around 4 p.m.,' he said.

The rhino, apparently, showed symptoms of acute abdominal pain. `The junior resident doctors noticed that it was ill in the morning,' he said. Being a holiday and the zoo's resident veterinary doctor, Dr. Naveen on leave, the authorities roped in retired veterinary doctors, Dr. Gohar Ali Khan and Dr. Dattareya Rao. Soon, Dr. Naveen too rushed to the zoo accompanied by another expert, Dr. Ramakrishna Rao. `We tried our best to save it, but to no avail,' the curator said adding that the average life span of rhinos is 20-25 years.

`The rhino has been in the zoo from its birth and a mate was requisitioned from the Kanpur zoo three years ago for its company.' Now, the zoo has a lone female rhino.

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