On January 17th, 1949, a white rhinoceros, approximately two months old, found near Tonj in the southern Sudan, was flown to Khartoum, the intention being to rear it for export.
On January 17th, 1949, a white rhinoceros, approximately two months old, found near Tonj in the southern Sudan, was flown to Khartoum, the intention being to rear it for export. The animal was housed, in isolation, in a mud-built hut, given a plentiful supply of grass bedding and ultimately covered at night with a blanket. The latter precaution was taken because the night temperature in Khartoum (55 deg F.) was then considerably lower than that in the south (64 deg F.) and the animal clearly disliked these relatively cold nights. During the first eight days after its arrival in Khartoum the rhinoceros appeared in good health. It took its food readily and the passage of faeces was normal and regular. The rectal temperature remained almost constant between 100? and 101?F. On the ninth day it started cutting its molar teeth and then resented the introduction of the teat, but in less than 48 hours it was apparently normal again and fed greedily. However, early on the morning of the 29th it was found unable to stand and it died at 8.30 am.
