Potter Park Zoo Treats Critically Endangered Black Rhino Medical Emergency

Doppsee, an 18-year-old critically endangered eastern black rhino at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, experienced a sudden medical emergency leading to a rapid decline in her health. The zoo's veterinary team has been providing intensive care, including intravenous fluids, and monitoring her around the clock while trying to determine the cause of her illness. Doppsee is notable for being the mother of Jaali, the first black rhino calf born at the zoo in 2019, which brought global attention to the zoo's conservation efforts. The care team, including specialists from regional zoos and veterinary colleges, is employing creative methods to manage her treatment due to her large size. Black rhinos are critically endangered, with only about 5,000 individuals remaining in the wild and just over 50 in AZA-accredited zoos, where they are managed through the Species Survival Plan to maintain a healthy genetic population. Zoo officials continue to hope for her recovery and plan further evaluations in the coming days.