The Oklahoma City Zoo says an aging black rhinoceros died during a medical exam.
The zoo says 32-year-old Marsha had become lethargic with a decreased appetite, so staff members decided to perform an exam. The zoo says Marsha died during the examination Sunday morning.
Preliminary reports from a necropsy indicate that Marsha likely fell ill because of age-related issues. The zoo says the combined median age of male and female black rhinos is 17.8 years.
Marsha came to Oklahoma City in 1999 from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. She lived in the zoo's pachyderm habitat with fellow black rhino Rudy and Indian rhinos Niki and Chandra. The zoo says Marsha was an avid painter and many of the rhino's "masterpieces" were featured at the zoo's annual animal art show.
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