HEMOSIDEROSIS IN THE BLACK RHINOCEROS {DICEROS BICORNIS): A COMPARISON OF FREE-RANGING AND RECENTLY CAPTURED WITH TRANSLOCATED AND CAPTIVE ANIMALS

Abstract

Postmortem material from three zoo-exhibited, 18 translocated, one free-ranging, and six recently caught black rhinoceroses {Diceros bicornis) was examined for the presence of generalized hemosiderin deposition as a possible indicator of prior hemolysis. All zoo-exhibited and 72% of the translocated rhinoceroses had generalized hemosiderosis. None of the recently caught or free ranging rhinoceroses studied had this lesion. Several processes can result in hemosiderosis, and its presence in the captive and translocated animals may not necessarily indicate a hemolytic process; however, the absence of hemosiderosis in free-ranging and recently caught animals suggests that a hemolytic syndrome previously reported in captive black rhinoceroses does not occur under natural conditions.