Mystery Surrounds Rhinos' 'Unnatural Death' at Delhi Zoo

Dharmendra, a one-horned male rhinoceros, died an 'unnatural death' at the Delhi Zoo, sparking an investigation. The 11-year-old, part of an exchange program with Assam, was found dead without any prior illness. While anthrax has been ruled out, experts are conducting a postmortem to uncover the cause.

The Delhi Zoo is investigating the mysterious death of an 11-year-old male rhinoceros named Dharmendra, who arrived as part of an animal exchange program from Assam. Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar discovered the one-horned rhino dead in its enclosure, sparking concern over the cause of the 'unnatural death'.

Though initially in good health and paired with a female rhino for breeding purposes, the animal's sudden demise prompted an investigation with the help of experts from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. While anthrax has been ruled out, a detailed examination and postmortem are slated for Friday.

The tragic incident has highlighted concerns at the zoo, following the death of a white tiger cub recently. Other zoo animals remain under watch as the Joint Director of the National Zoological Park spearheads a detailed inquiry into the incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)