Zoo Atlanta's Southern white rhino Zuri dies after brief illness

Zoo Atlanta reported the death of Zuri, a Southern white rhino, after a brief illness that led to severe anemia, according to Atlanta News First.

Zuri showed a sharp decline in health and behavior earlier in the week, prompting blood tests that revealed the anemia. The zoo administered an emergency blood transfusion from an adult female rhino named Dakari and received blood donations from other facilities.

Despite the intensive care and quick response from the zoo's veterinary team, Zuri's condition worsened, and she died on November 6. Zuri was the first Southern white rhino born at Zoo Atlanta, born on Christmas Eve 2023 to parents Kiazi and Mumbles.

Sam Rivera, Vice President of Animal Health at Zoo Atlanta, described the loss as devastating, highlighting Zuri's value as a young individual and a member of a vulnerable species. The zoo is awaiting pathology reports to better understand the cause of death.

The announcement came as Zoo Atlanta introduced two new giant pandas to the public, drawing large crowds, according to related reports.