Nola the Female White Rhino at San Diego Zoo Safari Park Died

Nola’s death is also a blow to the northern white rhino sub-species.

Nola was a critically endangered 41-year-old rhino, and has been with the San Diego Zoo since 1989, she had an infection that was identified as a abscess deep in her pelvic region.

Earlier this month, a half-dozen southern white rhinos were brought from South Africa via chartered jet to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as part of the zoo’s effort to save their northern white rhino cousins. The northern white rhino is a subspecies of the white rhino, which is the second largest animal on land, according to the World Wildlife Fund for nature.

After her condition worsened significantly, caretakers chose to euthanize her, zoo officials said.

A popular white rhinoceros has been euthanized at San Diego Zoo Safari Park after a series of illnesses. A critical blow to the species as the two males and one female living in Kenya have little chance of saving the species.

This iconic animal was not only a big addition to the San Diego Zoo, but was one of only four norther white rhinoceros on the planet. However, sperm samples have been collected and are now stored in liquid nitrogen in the Czech Republic, according to The Sunday Times. The bull rhino, named Sudan, is 42- years old-too advanced in age to reproduce sexually. While the perspective looks grim for northern white rhinos, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research is still hopeful.

Researchers here are working closely with the Ol Pejeta Conservancy as well as the Center for Regenerative Medicine with the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla in hopes that something can be done to save the northern white rhinos. I would call her a symbol of our goal.