Zoo: Rare rhino death leaves only 13 worldwide (AP/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

SAN DIEGO, California (AP) -- A rare northern white rhinoceros died Wednesday at the San Diego Zoo, dwindling the critically endangered species' population to as few as 13 worldwide, zoo officials said.

Nadi was one of three northern white rhinos at the zoo's Wild Animal Park. No cause of death was given, but the female rhino had shown signs of old age, the zoo said in a statement.

Nadi, believed to be more than 40 years old, was brought from Africa in 1972 and was part of a group maintained at the Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic.

She and another female rhino named Nola came to the Wild Animal Park in San Diego in 1989 as part of an effort to breed the species. (Watch file footage of Nadi at the San Diego Zoo Video)
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Northern white rhinos are considered critically endangered. Along with the two remaining at the Wild Animal Park, there are six at a zoo in the Czech Republic and as few as five believed to be roaming in the African wild, the zoo said.
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/05/31/rhino.death.ap/index.html

[stuntcat]

1. it's a shame

one animal keeps making trash and machines and crowding out the rest.
I just found a three-year-old article saying there were about 20 left (then) and the rest had been poached by heavily-armed gangs.