Nola (rhinoceros)

Nola

Nola, a female Northern White Rhino at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Species Northern White Rhinoceros
Sex Female
Born c. 1972
Shambe area of Southern Sudan
Known for One of only five Northern White Rhinoceros left in the world[1]

Nola is a female Northern white rhinoceros that lives at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California. She is one of only five living northern white rhinoceroses alive today and the only female in the western world, including North and South America and Europe.

Background

Nola was wild caught in the Shambe area, which is located "in the southern savanna woodlands of Sudan. She was rescued from the violent poaching that is prevalent in that region when she was only a few years old." She then went to live at the San Diego Zoo, where she has resided ever since.[2] Her age upon capture has been estimated more closely at being 1.5 years old.[3]

San Diego Zoo

Nola lives at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s South Africa field habitat. She was in the same enclosure as her counterpart Angalifu, but he was moved to the Central Africa field habitat at the zoo before his death on December 14, 2014. Nola's lead keeper at the zoo is Jane Kennedy.[4] While at the zoo, Nola has been described by PBS as "independent and aggressive".[5]

A photographer who has shot photos of Nola numerous times stated, "As any rhino might, Nola enjoys her daily belly scratches and neck rubs, carrots, and the occasional bucket of apples. She spends her days indulging in the warm Southern California weather sunbathing." She shares her enclosure with other African animals, including Cape Buffalo, giraffes and gazelles.[6] Irv Erdos, a writer for the The San Diego Union-Tribune, endorsed the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy's mission to bring animals back from the brink of extinction, specifically mentioning Nola. Erdos stated that he has visited Nola "at least a dozen times."[7]

Breeding

In 1996, Nola refused advances by Angi, a male northern white rhino at the San Diego Zoo that staff hoped would mate. Nola was given hormones to make her more receptive to Angi's advances. After her food was mixed with prostaglandin, followed by a two-week daily dose of oral progesterone, Nola became receptive to Angi's advances and the two mated for 20-30 minutes the first time. Following that mating, the two continued to copulate, but no pregnancy resulted from the pairing.[8]

Nola is too old to be bred at this point, and as of 2014 was considered "elderly".[9]

References

  1. ↑ Relations, Public (21 Oct 2014). "San Diego Zoo Safari Park Home to 2 of 6 Remaining Northern White Rhinoceroses". San Diego Zoo. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  2. ↑ MacKenzie, Kathy (30 Mar 2014). "Only 7 Northern White Rhinos remain on planet earth!". Feather and Fur Photography. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Rookmaaker, L.C. (1998). The Rhinoceros in Captivity: A List of 2439 Rhinoceroses Kept from Roman Times to 1994. Kugler Publications. p. 271. ISBN 9789051031348. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Kennedy, Jane (2 Jun 2014). "An Extra Treat for Nola". San Diego Zoo. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Animal Attractions: Amazing Tales from the San Diego Zoo". PBS. Feb 2000. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Only 7 Northern White Rhinos remain on planet earth!". Fur and Feather Photography. 30 Mar 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Erdos, Irv (29 Oct 2014). "Letter gets him thinking about rhinos and his relatives". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 4 Dec 2014.
  8. ↑ Kellan, Ann (2 Mar 1996). "Breeding rhinos: Not an easy chore". CNN. Retrieved 4 Dec 2014.
  9. ↑ Waters, Rob (9 Jun 2010). "Animal Cloning: The Next Phase". Business Week. Retrieved 6 October 2014.