Zuri, the first southern white rhino calf ever born at Zoo Atlanta, arrived on Christmas Eve 2023. She was the first offspring of rhinos Kiazi and Mumbles, and her name was chosen by public vote during the zoo’s 2024 “Rhino Naming Madness” contest.

According to zoo officials, Zuri experienced a “sharp decline in her health and behavior” over a brief period. When the Zoo Atlanta Veterinary Team examined her, they discovered she had severe anemia. Despite extensive treatment, her condition continued to worsen, and she died on Friday.

“This is a devastating loss for the Zoo Atlanta team,” said Sam Rivera, DVM, Vice President of Animal Health, in a statement. “The loss of Zuri is crushing not only because she was such a young animal who was treasured as an individual, but also because she was an incredibly valuable member of her vulnerable species. While it is too early for us to presume on any specific cause, we are hopeful that pathology reports will tell us more about Zuri’s condition.”

A necropsy will be conducted through Zoo Atlanta’s partnership with the University of Georgia Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Preliminary results are expected in several weeks.

Southern white rhinos are listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with poaching for their horns remaining the primary threat to wild populations. Zuri’s birth was celebrated as a significant contribution to the species’ survival.

In the wake of her death, zoo staff are providing additional care to Dakari, Zuri’s “aunt,” who was her most frequent companion at the zoo.

The loss has resonated beyond the zoo’s gates, with community members expressing condolences on social media. Zoo Atlanta has not announced any public memorial plans.