Oldest rhino in the US — mom to 10 — dies after ‘extraordinary life’ at Tennessee zoo
A 56-year-old rhinoceros, the oldest in the U.S., has died in Tennessee after exceeding the median life expectancy for her species by nearly 20 years.
Zoo Knoxville announced Feb. 6 that Dolly the Southern white rhino had experienced severe mobility issues in recent days, leading to the decision to euthanize her.
Dolly was born in South Africa in 1968 and was brought to the U.S. in 1976 with a cohort of other rhinos “in an effort to save the species,” according to Zoo Knoxville.
“When she had calves (10 in total), Dolly could be fiercely protective,” zookeepers said. “She could also be stubborn and hard headed. But in her retirement years, Dolly has softened considerably.”
In her older age, Dolly enjoyed grazing, napping in the sand and splashing around in the mud as the veterinarian team managed her age-related medical issues. But she recently took a turn for the worse, and her quality of life could no longer be maintained with treatment, zookeepers said.
Zoo Knoxville said Dolly lived an “extraordinary life.”
“I remember seeing her for the first time in 1978, and many times after that over the years,” one zoo visitor wrote on Facebook. “I was always amazed by her. She was a magnificent creature and will be missed.”
African rhinos face existential risks due to poaching for their horns, but Southern white rhinos saw an increase in population numbers in 2022 for the first time since 2012, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The zoo said the median life expectancy for Southern white rhinos is 36.5 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
“This is an emotional time for everyone who has cared for and loved Dolly,” said Bill Street, Zoo Knoxville’s president and CEO. “She was a remarkable animal, and her impact on this zoo and the people who have met her is immeasurable.”
This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 3:11 PM with the headline "Oldest rhino in the US — mom to 10 — dies after ‘extraordinary life’ at Tennessee zoo."