Alongside with happy news, as the birth of Ran
in Sendai, we have to report, thanks to our Teammate Yuko Imaizumi, the death of one of the oldest Eastern Black Rhino in Japan: male Thomy. Here what our Yuko wrote about him:

“On February 7, Thomy, a male black rhino died at the age of 36 at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka.
A zoo keeper that takes care of the Rhinos says the cause of death was Thomy’s oldness and a liver disease.

He spent 30 years at Tennoji Zoo where he lived since he was transferred from Asa Zoo in Hiroshima in 1989. He was very gentle with his partner Satchan: it was well known for regular zoo visitors.

Thomy’s mother, Hana, which died at the age of 52 in September last year at Asa zoo, was the OLDEST Black Rhino in the world, and his father Kuro lived up to the age of 44.

It’s very sad that Thomy could not live as long as his parents, but one of his calves, Sammy, (he now lives in Europe!) fathered 8 calves at zoos in the UK (and hopefully there are more to come!)”.

In one of Yuko’s personal blog articles, you can read more about Thomy.