Rhino, bugged by flies, finds home in Switzerland
Tanda, the 25-year-old rhinoceros who lives at the Ramat Gan Safari, is about to head off to a new home in Zurich, Switzerland, Israel Hayom reported on Tuesday.
The rhino has faced vision problems in recent years, exacerbated by flies in the hot Mediterranean climate. Tanda has been wearing a mask to prevent flies getting into her eyes and has undergone alternative treatments with an alternative animal therapist to soothe her irritation.
Transporting a rhinoceros is a complex operation but she won’t be going alone. Two of her four daughters, Tatini and Tashi, as well as another male rhino, two-year-old Remy, will be taking the trip together, preparations for which are already underway.
It is thought that Tanda’s new home in the cooler Alpine climate will improve her quality of life significantly, and caretakers said they hope she will adjust well.
Tanda is a southern white rhinoceros, a species that has been poached almost to extinction. A white rhino’s horn could be sold for $6,000 per kg. on the black market, according to National Geographic.
The Ramat Gan Safari leads Europe in the number of rhinos born, due to the success of its breeding program. More than 70 zoos in Europe have taken part in the program to combat the loss of endangered species, such as that of the white rhinoceros. Altogether, the project has protected 300 rhinos. Out of those, more than 30 are in the Ramat Gan Safari.
Earlier this year, the park saw the birth of a northern white rhino named Rainy-Rafiki.
“Rainy” was for the rainy weather the country experienced this year, while Rafiki, which means “friend” in Swahili, is a gesture toward the strengthening relations between the Ramat Gan Safari and the Tanzanian Embassy.
The embassy celebrated the first anniversary of its establishment in Tel Aviv in May while Tanzania itself marked its 55th year of independence in April.