Nola, Northern White Rhino, Dies, Only Three Remain

The northern white rhino population declined by 25 percent Sunday after Nola died after treatment for a bacterial infection. Nola resided at the San Diego Zoo in California. She was the only northern white rhino in the United States. The remaining three northern white rhinos are being cared for at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Caregivers at the conservancy have armed guards protecting the only male northen white rhino from potential poachers.

Nola’s caregivers were devastated by her passing according to a tweet sent out by the San Diego Zoo. She was 41-years old. Nola had reached the upper end of a northern white rhino’s life expectancy. A subspecies of white rhinos, the northern white rhino is extinct in the wild according to World Wildlife Fund. CNN stated that Nola had to be euthanized after her condition worsened rapidly over the weekend.

Nola was being treated for age related issues along with an infection traced back to an abscess deep in her pelvic region. On November 13, a minor surgery was performed to drain the abscess. Veterinarians were optimistic that all the infected material was removed. Sadly, it looks like the infection was just too much for the geriatric rhino to handle. Nola quit eating and had grown lethargic.

While Nola is gone, the San Diego Zoo is continuing to work on saving the northern white rhinos. They have gathered genetic material from Nola and are working on the development of assistive reproductive technologies. The San Diego Zoo has set aside $2 million in hopes of implanting the genetic material of the northern white rhino into the closely related southern white rhinos. The San Diego Zoo has collected and is storing northern white rhino genetic materials in its Frozen Zoo. If they are successful, there is a chance that the northern white rhino population could begin to grow. The southern white rhino has seen an increase in population due to sanctuaries protecting them and their offspring.

This is the second major loss for the northern white rhino population and the San Diego Zoo. Last December, Angalifu, a male northen white rhino, passed away at the age of 44 due to cancer, according to the Los Angelos Times. In less than a year, the entire population of the northern white rhinos has dwindled by a staggering 40 percent.

Of the three remaining northern white rhinos, the two females are incapable of natural reproduction and the only remaining male has a very low sperm count. The only way to save the northern white rhino population will be through in vitro fertilization. If in vitro fertilization is successful, there is a chance for the northern white rhinos, but there is no guarantee.

Thank you all for your condolences. Honor Nola by sharing her story w/ #Nola4Ever. Please re-tweet. #EndExtinction pic.twitter.com/M2FAa7DHX5

— San Diego Zoo Safari Park (@sdzsafaripark) November 22, 2015

Northern white rhinos where poached into almost complete extinction due to their valuable tusks. The tusks are an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine. The last wild northern white rhinos were killed in 2006. They lived in the Dominican Republic of the Congo.

Nola was a favorite among zoo patrons and caregivers since she came to the San Diego Zoo in 1989. The 4,000-pound animal was incredibly social and loved having her back scratched. She stood out to visitors due to her distinctive curved horn. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Nola lovers are eulogizing her on Twitter under the hashtag #Nola4Ever. Zoo patrons, zoos from across the world, veterinarians, and other conservation groups have all tweeted with the hashtag since word of her passing was released this morning.

[Photo by Lenny Ignelzi/AP Images]