SAN FRANCISCO --San Francisco zoo officials are mourning the death of \"Gene,\" a 41-year-old black rhinoceros who's been a popular figure at the zoo since 1978. <\/p>\n
Zoo officials, who described Gene as gentle and friendly, said he died of kidney failure on Monday. <\/p>\n
The zoo's animal care and veterinary staff had been keeping an eye on Gene because his appetite had dropped and he was lethargic, according to zoo officials. <\/p>\n
After a recent blood sample indicated that Gene had kidney failure, zoo staff focused on keeping him comfortable for the remainder of his life. <\/p>\n
Gene was named after the late Eugene Friend, who served on the Recreation and Park Commission for 24 years, zoo officials said. <\/p>\n
Gene was born in Kenya and came to the San Francisco Zoo in 1978 at the age of seven. <\/p>\n
During his time at the zoo, Gene fathered five offspring, three of which are now living at other accredited zoos, zoo officials said. <\/p>\n
Gene's animal keeper, Julie McGilvray, said he had a good disposition and was very friendly. <\/p>\n
\"We nicknamed him Big Dog because he loved to be rubbed, either by hand or with a scrub brush, and oftentimes he would lie down and absorb the soothing experience,\" McGilvray said in a statement. <\/p>\n
Zoo officials said black rhinos are a critically endangered species because they are targeted by poachers who covet their valuable horns. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
View post: SAN FRANCISCO --San Francisco zoo officials are mourning the death of \"Gene,\" a 41-year-old black rhinoceros who's been a popular figure at the zoo since 1978. Zoo officials, who described Gene as gentle and friendly, said he died of kidney failure on Monday. Continue reading
\nSan Francisco: 41-year-old black rhino 'Gene' dies zoo<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"