World’s oldest rhino dies

Photo: Collected

The oldest rhino in the world has died in Tanzania aged 57. 

Fausta, an eastern female black rhino, died of suspected natural death on Friday, said Dr Freddy Manongi, the Conservation Commissioner for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), in a statement. 

Fausta was first sighted in the Ngorongoro crater in 1965 by a scientist from the University of Dar es Salaam, at the age between three and four years. She roamed the crater freely for more than 54 years, but health issues in her old age required her to spend her final few years receiving specialist care in a sanctuary.

Fausta never had calves - something conservationists in Ngorongoro suggest may have contributed to her long life.

By 2016, Fausta's eyesight was deteriorating and she was suffering from the lingering effects of hyena attacks.

"Vicious animals, especially hyenas, started attacking her and she received very serious sores," said Manongi. "By 2016, we had to get her out of the wild and put her in special care." 

He added that on the day Fausta died, another rhino was born. Read more