Reference Base Incidence of ryegrass staggers in white rhinoceros (Cerat... |
|
|
|
|
Location: |
Africa |
Subject: |
Ecology - Food |
Species: |
White Rhino |
|
|
Ryegrass staggers in two white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) was recorded at Auckland Zoo in March 2001. Mazithi, a 17year-old female, showed a sudden onset of head and leg tumors, was unsteady on her feet, uncoordinated, and lethargic for 5 days. She was recorded as having displayed similar symptoms in December 1999 and January 2001. Mandhia, a 24-year-old male, also showed similar symptoms for 2 days, and a veterinarian made a provisional diagnosis of ryegrass staggers. Both rhino were kept in the same enclosure and were each being fed one small bale of pasture hay, one to two biscuits of lucerne hay and 1-2 kg of horse and pony pellets (NRM New Zealand Limited, Auckland NZ per day. The hay, which was purchased from a farm in Auckland, was removed from their diet and replaced with barley straw and lucerne hay, and after 2 days the rhino recovered uneventfully.
|
|
|