Black rhino euthanized in Denver

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DENVER, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A black rhinoceros at the Denver Zoo was euthanized after suffering from multiple ailments, zoo officials said.

Zookeepers found George, 28, unable to stand Monday and euthanized him early Tuesday, The Denver Post reported Wednesday.

He had been suffering from diverticulitis, chronic diarrhea and weight loss and a preliminary necropsy showed the animal had a ruptured spleen. George was the ninth-oldest black rhinoceros in a zoo in the world.

George came to the Denver Zoo from the Cincinnati Zoo in 1984 when he was 1 year old. The rhino fathered a calf in 1992 named Tony.

The Denver Zoo is home to two other black rhinos: Shy Anne, a female, and Mshindi, a male.