(AP) -- A Madison zoo has euthanized a 44-year-old white rhinoceros.
The rhino, called George, was one of the oldest residents of Henry Vilas Zoo. He came to the zoo in 1976 with his companion Gracie, who died at the zoo in 2012 at age 42.
Zoo director Ronda Schwetz says staff members decided to euthanize the rhino late last week.
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Schwetz tells the Wisconsin State Journal that George was not eating as much and was not his usual self.
She says white rhinos typically live 20 to 30 years in the wild and 35 years in captivity. Since George was much older than the average rhino, the zoo's veterinarian had been conducting weekly check-ups on him for several years.
The zoo hopes to have another rhino in about a year.
