Toshi, Oldest Eastern Black Rhino In North America, Dies At Zoo Miami

CBS Miami

January 15, 2021

Less than two weeks after losing its beloved giraffe Pongo, Zoo Miami is mourning the loss of Toshi, a black rhino who had become one of the most beloved animals in the history of the zoo.

At nearly 44 years old, Toshi was believed to be the oldest Eastern black rhino in North America and the second oldest in the world. Unfortunately, along with that advanced age, came a variety of ailments that had become increasingly debilitating over the last several months, according to Zoo Miami Communications Director Ron Magill. Though some of those ailments, such as severe arthritis, were being successfully treated with medications, as time wore on, the treatments became less and less effective.

In recent weeks, Magill explained, Toshi had experienced a dramatic weight loss and lethargy which caused special concern in the Animal Health and Animal Science teams. Many tests were done with hopes of determining the cause of the weight loss, however, no conclusive answers were found.

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