Dolly, the oldest rhinoceros in the United States, has passed away at the age of 56 at Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee. She was euthanized on February 15, 2024, after experiencing a rapid decline in mobility. Despite receiving specialized care for aging animals, her condition worsened, and veterinarians determined that no further treatment could provide her with a good quality of life. Experts from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine assisted in the decision.

Dolly was a southern white rhinoceros, born in 1968 in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. She arrived at Zoo Knoxville in 1976 and played a crucial role in conservation, successfully raising 10 calves. She also helped educate the public about the challenges rhinos face in the wild. Although southern white rhinos are the most common of the five rhino species, their numbers are decreasing due to poaching and habitat loss. Their average lifespan is 36.5 years, making Dolly’s long life extraordinary. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums reports that the global rhino population has dropped from 500,000 in the early 1900s to just 27,000 today. Over 10,000 rhinos have been killed for their horns in the last decade. Zoo Knoxville emphasized Dolly’s lasting impact and remains committed to protecting rhinos through conservation efforts.