WICHITA – Sedgwick County Zoo officials have announced that “Eugene,” a beloved eastern black rhinoceros, has passed away. Eugene was 32-years-old.

He came to Sedgwick County Zoo in 1981 from Cincinnati Zoo. Eugene has fathered many over the years and is survived by three: one each at Kansas City Zoo, St Louis Zoo and Potter Park Zoo in Lansing MI. Eugene is also the grandfather to another at St Louis Zoo. Bibi, our female Eastern black rhinoceros remains in good health at age 14.

The Sedgwick County Zoo is dedicated to the care and conservation of Eastern black rhinos and will continue to support rhino programs. All rhinos are under threat of extinction and all but one species is on the verge of extinction. Without conservation action, some rhinos could be extinct in the wild within the next 10-20 years.

Only about 25,000 of these marvelous creatures survive in the wild with another 1,250 under human care. Of these rhinos, more than two-thirds are white rhinos.

There are only around 7,300 of the other four species combined. Best current population estimates are: 20,150 white rhinos, 4,860 black rhinos, 2,850 greater one-horned rhinos, 200 Sumatran rhinos, and less than 44 Javan rhinos.

Black rhinos can live to be 30-35 years in the wild and more than 45 years in human care. One of the biggest reasons for the drastic decline is poaching for rhino horns.

Rhinos are considered an umbrella species because providing enough protection and habitat for the viability of rhinos ensures that the many other species living in the rhino’s ecosystem are also conserved.

If you would like to help Sedgwick County Zoo help Eastern black rhinos please consider making a donation. When you support the Zoo you are supporting animal conservation programs around the world.