Rhino Dies in Oregon; Was on Loan From Zoo

A 26-year-old white rhinoceros on loan from the San Diego Zoo has died in Winston, Ore., two days after arriving at the Wildlife Safari, where it was to breed with a male rhino.

The female rhino, Maguhgyani, was valued because she had been captured from the wild and represented a new blood line for breeding purposes, San Diego Zoo spokesman Jeff Jouett said, adding that the rhino had come to San Diego last spring from the San Francisco Zoo.

Maguhgyani died on Friday, after a 38-hour trip from San Diego, according to John Cooper, spokesman for the southern Oregon wildlife park.

“She essentially laid down, rolled over and died,” Cooper said. “The cause of death appears to be from stress related to transport and movement.’

Intended Mate

The rhino was intended to mate with Jack, a 15-year-old male.

“If she had lived, they probably would have begun mating activities almost as soon as she was released from quarantine,” Cooper said. “It’s naturally a disappointment to all of us, but it’s always a danger when you transport such a large animal.”

Dan Black, the Oregon park’s executive ranger who transported Maguhgyani from San Diego, said the animal had been dehydrated. Rhinos normally drink 30 gallons of water a day.

“She lost a lot of weight during the trip and just wouldn’t drink much,” he said. “No animal rests well when carted around like that.”

After the trip, Maguhgyani had to wait in a 10-by-4 foot trailer for nearly two days while park workers rushed to finish a reinforced quarantine compound.

Michael Briggs, chief veterinarian at Wildlife Safari, began a necropsy Friday. An official cause of death was not immediately determined.

Jouett said local zoo officials were surprised by news of the death and by speculation that the animal died because of the trip.

“A 10-by-4 crate is normal for transporting a rhino, and they have to travel up to 45 days when they are originally captured,” Jouett said.