African rhino dies in Assam zoo

The lone African rhino at the Assam state Zoo died of old age, a zoo official said here today.

Mohan, the African white rhino, was brought here from the USA in 1974.

The male rhino was around 47 years old and the normal lifespan of rhinos is 35 to 45 years.

He died of old age around 11.30 PM, the officials said.

White rhinos, though grey in colour, are among the largest living land animals, having a body length between 335 and 420 cm and a tail length of 50 to 70 cm.

The zoo lost a second inmate within a week following the death of 20-year-old Swati, the country's oldest tigress in captivity, also due to old age on Sunday last.