Howard the Rhino (2004-2024)
Obituary
Howard, a southern white rhinoceros, passed away in Arizona following a decline in his health.
Howard died in September 2024 at the Phoenix Zoo after being treated for a progressive neurological condition. Howard was transferred from the Brevard Zoo in Florida to Phoenix in 2020.
Howard’s life in captivity in the US was markedly different from his counterparts in the wild. Most white rhinos live in the savannas of South Africa, though some are also found in Namibia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. In the wild, white rhinos live between 39 to 43 years, while they only live between 27 to 30 years in captivity.
White rhinoceroses are also the most social of the rhino species, congregating in herds of up to 12 other rhinos. When threatened, rhinos will stand in a circle facing outward to defend themselves and protect the youngest members of the herd. White rhinos also have the largest range of vocalizations of rhino species. Research suggests that white rhinos can distinguish each other’s individual calls. In zoos, rhinos are held in much smaller groups or even alone. Only one white rhino, a female named LouLou, remains at Phoenix Zoo.
The southern white rhino is classified as near threatened by the IUCN Red List, and their population is decreasing. The northern white rhino is functionally extinct; only two northern white rhinos remain, both female, Najin and Fatu, who live in a conservancy in Kenya.
The primary threat to rhinos is hunting to supply horns to the rhino horn trade for traditional medicine and décor, such as bowls. The climate crisis is also pushing rhinos to extinction by making their habitats less hospitable and forcing them into places with more humans, which exacerbates the risk of poaching.
World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves rhinos to avoid zoos and aquariums and enjoy them in the wild or at accredited sanctuaries.
