4 rare white rhinos die suddenly in Australian zoo

[Elberfeld]

rare white rhinos die suddenly in Australian zoo

Updated 3/21/2012 7:38 AM
SYDNEY (AP) — Four rare white rhinoceroses have died in recent weeks at an Australian zoo after displaying mysterious neurological problems such as stumbling, officials said Wednesday.

The Taronga Western Plains Zoo near the New South Wales state city of Dubbo said in a statement that it had begun a veterinary investigation to pinpoint the cause of the deaths and is working with rhino specialists in Africa and North America.

The four rhinos — Izizi, Aluka, Intombi and her daughter Amira — began showing signs of neurological problems two weeks ago, an unnamed zoo official told Australian Associated Press.

The first rhino died soon after the symptoms became apparent and the fourth died over the weekend, the official said.

Three other rhinos survived, zoo spokesman Mark Williams said. Williams declined to answer further questions.

The zoo's general manager, Matt Fuller, said bacterial infections, snake venom, toxins and many types of viruses have been ruled out as possible causes.

Fuller said in a statement that no other species at the zoo had been affected by the illness and the surviving rhinos, which have been placed in quarantine, are healthy.

"The rhino keepers and veterinary staff know and care for every individual in the herd, so this has been a huge shock, and we're all very sad and supporting each other through this difficult time," Fuller said.

Fuller said results of a microscopic examination of tissue from the rhino carcasses may be available next week, but he added that it could take several weeks to get results from virology cultures.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, white rhinos are classified as near endangered with an estimated 20,000 in the wild in Africa. The zoo's rhinos are from the southern white subspecies found in South Africa and Kenya.

Intombi and Aluka were brought to the zoo from the Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2003. Amira and Izizi were born in captivity.

Their ages ranged from around 7 to 16 years.

Fuller was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.

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Treurig nieuws weer.

[Elberfeld]

Zoo investigates rhinoceros deaths

Updated March 21, 2012 08:07:34
Veterinarians and rhinoceros specialists are investigating the deaths of four endangered White Rhinos at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo in the state's central west.

The zoo says the animals died suddenly after showing neurological symptoms such as stumbling.

A spokeswoman has confirmed a range of tests are being carried out to determine the cause of the animals' deaths.

Zoo staff are liaising with the world's top rhinoceros specialists in Africa and North America. So far the investigation has ruled out exposure to toxins, bacterial infections, snake bite and organ failure.

The rhinos have also shown no signs of Hendra Virus and West Nile Virus.

The white rhinoceros display has been closed and the three remaining animals have been put into quarantine where they're being monitored by zoo keepers. No other animals have been affected, including the herd of black rhinos.

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Nog geen duidelijkheid over de dood van de vier neushoorns dus. Ik blijf wel opletten voor als de onderzoeken resultaat leveren. Maar gelukkig is de groep zwarte neushoorns niet getroffen.

[Cactus]

Er worden nog veel andere diersoorten bedreigt met uitroeiing. Hoorde nu weer dat de Orang Oetans op Sumatra binnen enkele weken niet meer zullen bestaan omdat men de bossen platbrandt om er landbouw op te gaan beginnen.
Neushoorn worden afgeslacht voor hun hoorns omdat er idioten zijn die denken dat die bepaalde krachten zouden leveren.
De "mens" is lekker bezig om deze aardkloot in de vernieling te brengen. t Is gewoon een misdaad tegen moedertje natuur. En waarom ??? Money Money Money!

[a.r.]

http://www.avaaz.org/nl/save_rhinos/?cl ... 70&v=13386" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ik zeg niet dat het helpt, maar nietsdoen helpt zeker niet.

[Jagang]

rare white rhinos die suddenly in Australian zoo

Updated 3/21/2012 7:38 AM
SYDNEY (AP) — Four rare white rhinoceroses have died in recent weeks at an Australian zoo after displaying mysterious neurological problems such as stumbling, officials said Wednesday.

Ik moet meteen aan prionenziekten denken?
Zoals BSE, dat ook gepaard gaat met neurologische symptomen, zoals gedragsveranderingen, afnemende motoriek, verlammingsverschijnselen, "wijdbeens" staan, en uiteindelijk slikverlamming met de dood tot gevolg.

[Jinny]

Slachtafval gevoerd aan de beesten? (lekker goedkoop)