Nola, the northern white rhinoceros at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, is expected to be released back into her exhibit Friday following a biopsy conducted to determine what caused her right hip to swell for the second time this year.
The 41-year-old endangered rhino — the last remaining northern white rhinoceros in North America and one of only four of her species left in the world — underwent the veterinary procedure at the San Pasqual-area park on
Thursday. She was kept indoors overnight and is scheduled to head back to her habitat this morning, according to news reports.
In May, Nola was examined after keepers noticed swelling in her right hip consistent with a large abscess. Safari Park staffers at that time flushed the area with sterile saline and put her on antibiotics.
"At this point, it appears the original abscess sealed itself off without completely healing, but we need to investigate further," Safari Park senior veterinarian Jeff Zuba told NBC7.
Zuba told the television station tissue and fluid samples from the hip swelling were taken to assist with the diagnosis, as was a blood sample to assess overall health. Results can take up to 10 days. In the mean time, Nola will undergo a course of antibiotics and animal keepers will treat the wound.
In addition to Nola, an elderly female, the remaining members of the species are a male and two females at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
The northern white rhino population was reduced in the wild by poachers who mistakenly believe the keratin in their horns has medicinal value, according to San Diego Zoo Global. The ones in captivity have generally not reproduced.
