We are terribly sad reporting in just one article three deaths of Rhinos.
Just few days ago we found out, quite by chance, that Tidbit, a precious baby Southern White Rhino – and the only one born worldwide in a Zoo in the whole 2018! – has died. We do not know when exactly, we suppose between the end of 2019 or the very beginning of 2020, and moreover, we do not know why. As many of you remember, Tidbit was born in November 2018 in White Oak, a private Rhino holder in Florida, USA, that is not willing to give information about its Rhinos. The birth of Tidbit was so important that the Facility broke its silence and choose to divulge it, enphatizing also that little Tidbit was rejected by his mum at birth and had to be handraised. Unfortunately, nothing more was known, till now, that we can confirm that he succumbed. It is a hearthbreaking news. The Southern Black Rhino Breeding Program has been holding still since 2014 in the USA, with the birth of a healthy male now in Fortworth, Texas. Only Australia is having good success with it, with two births in 2017, but it is the only Continent – besides Africa, obviously – which is working on it. Europe stopped at the beginning of the year 2000 and definitely gave up with the death of the only female, Tsororo, in 2016? Maybe, this year, with the moove of Dubya, a mature male from Chehaw Wild Animal Park (Georgia, USA) to Tanganyika Wildlife Park (Kansas, USA) could bring some fresh air in the Breeding Program, but everything is still too nebulous.
Tidbit leaves a great hollow behind, unfortunately followed by another one in Milwaukee. Southern Black Rhino Mimi, 36, died of age related problem. The old lady, who has given birth 3 times, survived by her male companion Brewster that died in 2016. At the Facility remains an Eastern Black Rhino, almost 8 years old Jozi. It is unclear what the projects are. Is Jozi going to participate activaly to the Eastern Black Rhino Breeding Program now with the arrival of a new male? We will wait and see.
Do you remember the five Eastern Black Rhino translocated last year in Summer to Czech Republic to Rwanda? Suppose so. Well, one of them, adult male Manny, only 9 years old, has suddenly died in February this year of what it has been offically reported as a gastrointestinal acute condition. The EAZA in person released an official press article referring that Manny was not killed by poachers but died of natural causes. We do not want to comment on this tragedy or what it implies for now and for the future. We just want to remind that another male, Zambezi, died in transit from England to Tanzania where he was going to be released. And that in 2017 female Eliska, from Czech Republic, died from injuries caused by an other male, in Tanzania. If one death is a terrible blow to the Rhino population, three in less than 3 years are huge.
