Delhi zoo’s one-horned rhino Dharmendra dies under ‘unnatural circumstances’

Dharmendra, an 11-year-old one-horned male rhinoceros brought to the Delhi Zoo from Assam as part of an animal-exchange programme, has died an “unnatural death,” zoo officials said on Friday.

The rhino, which arrived in September 2024, was reportedly in good health and had been introduced to a female rhinoceros in the hope of breeding.

Delhi Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar stated, “Dharmendra was found dead in his enclosure early in the morning, before the visitors arrived.” Despite being rushed to the zoo’s veterinary hospital, the animal was declared dead on arrival.

Kumar further explained, “The male rhino, around 11 years old, was found dead in its enclosure this morning. Since it is an unnatural death with no prior history of illness, all possible causes are being considered, and an investigation is underway.”

Experts from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, have been called to conduct a detailed examination and postmortem. “Anthrax has been ruled out, and the postmortem will take place on Friday,” Kumar said. The joint director of the National Zoological Park (NZP) has been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry and submitting a report. While the female rhinos have shown no abnormalities so far, they are under observation, he added.

Dharmendra had arrived at the Delhi Zoo as part of a programme that also saw the transfer of a male Bengal tiger and a pair of pied hornbills to Delhi from the Assam Zoo. In exchange, the Delhi Zoo sent a female tiger, a blackbuck, a white buck, and a pair of blue-and-yellow macaws to Assam. After completing a mandatory quarantine period, the rhino was introduced to the public in October 2024.

Also Read: Delhi Zoo to get male rhino, tiger and hornbill from Guhawati

This incident comes on the heels of the death of a nine-month-old white tiger cub at the zoo on December 28, which succumbed to “traumatic shock and acute pneumonia.” Two other tiger cubs, born in March 2024, are currently under observation at the zoo’s veterinary hospital.

(With inputs from PTI)