Monarto Safari Park mourns traumatic death of third baby rhino, Eshe, in four years

Monarto zoo has been rocked after the third rare baby white rhino died in four years – all from similar trauma injuries. Is another rhino to blame?

Devastated by the loss of yet another baby white rhino at Monarto, the zoo has launched an investigation into the series of traumatic deaths.

An autopsy found 15-month-old Eshe had a large trauma injury that caused extensive internal bleeding.

Monarto Safari Park has previously lost two other young rhino, Imani in 2019 and Tundu in 2017, both females, both at relatively similar ages and both to similar causes of death.

All three had internal bleeding. Imani also had a broken rib and Tundu had heavy brusing.

Zoos SA said the mother of all these calves, Umquali, has shown all the best maternal attributes being both protective and caring in their upbringing.

Eshe, the southern white rhino calf on her first birthday, with her mother Umquali. Picture: Adrian Mann/Zoos SA

“Staff observations and previous camera footage have shown nothing negative in regard to interaction between mother and daughter or the other female rhinos,” the Zoo said in a statement.

“After the loss of the previous calves we made several changes regarding the management of the rhinos but to no avail.

“The coincidental nature of these deaths is difficult to ignore so we will be carrying out more testing in regards to both Eshe’s death – from the post mortem – and with both parents as well.”

Veterinary staff were monitoring Eshe after keepers noticed that she was not displaying her normal energy level and lying quietly for some time on Thursday morning.

Keepers separated Eshe and her mum Umquali from the rest of the group to care for them. While Eshe seemed a little better on Friday she deteriorated over the course of the evening and sadly passed away beside her mum overnight.

Monarto’s feisty newborn

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Monarto Safari Park director Peter Clark, said all three female calves had the same father and he suspected an underlying genetic problem, perhaps even bone loss.

“It’s a mystery, and we’ve had other calves here at the zoo who have survived into adulthood,” he said. “It’s these three girls that have been all born to the same mother and father that we’ve had this problem with and it’s very tempting to think of other underlying problems because the coincidence level is just too high for me.”

Umquali was displaying typical grieving behaviour.

“(She is) calling for her calf and looking towards the area where Eshe died,” Mr Clark said.

“She may continue to do this for a few days as she comes to terms with her loss. She continues to eat well and seeks out the companionship of the other females in the group.”

Distinguished research Professor William Laurance at James Cook University in Queensland said a genetic cause manifesting repeatedly was plausible but he was concerned about the evidence of trauma in each case, although one broken rib shouldn’t kill.

He said it was “really rare” for rhinos to kill a member of their group, especially a baby.

“Rhino mothers are pretty attentive, so unless there was some indication that there was some aggression towards it or something like that... it’s really a run of bad luck,” he said.

Keeper Haidee Kinter has worked with the rhinos for 17 years. She said Umquali was a “wonderful attentive mum”.

“They are the most gentle affectionate species,” she said. “But they do still like their personal space.”

Tundu died in 2017. Picture: Dylan Coker

Imani, the southern white rhino calf who died in 2019. Picture: Adrian Mann, Zoos SA

December this year will mark 21 years since southern white rhinoceros first arrived at Zoos SA.

“Zoos SA plays a significant role in ensuring the survival of the southern white rhino, both by providing on ground protection support in Africa and by building an insurance population at the safari park,” Mr Clark said.

“The loss of Eshe is significant and extremely sad, and whilst we feel deflated, we know we can’t stop our work. The future of rhinos is quite bleak and something we must continue to all rally behind. We must carry on.”

Monarto was also rocked by another animal death on the same day.

Jasiri, an endangered African painted dogs pup also during a medical investigation died on the veterinary table.

A Zoos SA senior veterinarian said the death of the six-month-old was caused by advanced liver disease.