The Phoenix Zoo has become a sanctum of mourning following the death of Howard, a beloved Southern White Rhino that had become a fixture of the community since his arrival in 2020. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Howard was euthanized after a battle with a "protracted and progressive neurological condition" that had ceased responding to treatments.
Howard's health issues had intensified, leading to the difficult decision made jointly by veterinarians and zookeepers. The Zoo has revealed that aside from the neurological condition, Howard was also combating meningitis and sepsis, with further pathology tests expected in the coming weeks, as reported by 12 News.
Aged 27, Howard had spent the last years of his life interacting warmly with both zoo staff and visitors, making him a favorite for all who passed his way. His keepers recall Howard as "an easy-going rhino who always enjoyed interacting with his keepers," as per a statement obtained by 12 News. They fondly remember his eagerness for companionship, compelling anyone who could to stand still and scratch him.
Howard's absence is profoundly felt at the Phoenix Zoo, with officials acknowledging that he will be "extraordinarily missed." Born in 1997 at the White Oak Conservation Center in Florida, Howard's journey included a stay at the Brevard Zoo before settling in Arizona. Now, LouLou, a female Southern white rhino, remains as a Zoo’s sole rhino of this species, noted in a portion of the statement released by FOX 10 Phoenix.
