Rare rhino dies at San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, June 1 (UPI) -- One of the last remaining Northern White Rhinos in the world has died at the Wild Animal Park in the San Diego Zoo.

The rhinoceros, named "Nadi," was believed to at least 40 years old, The North Country Times reported. Keepers said that in the last few days she had shown signs of failing health, including lethargy and loss of appetite.

The oldest known Northern White Rhino is 44.

Only 13 members of the species are known to remain, eight of them in captivity and five in the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Six of the captives are in the Czech Republic and the others are in San Diego.

The dead rhino was captured young and spent much of her life in Czechoslovakia. She and another female were brought to San Diego in 1989, in the hope that they could be bred with a newly arrived male.

Keepers hoped that reproductive technology could be used to breed the females despite their advanced age. The attempt did not succeed.