Last year, a white rhino was shot dead in a Florida park for acting like it was wild.

Workers at a Florida wildlife park shot and killed a white rhino less than 24 hours after it arrived at the park last September, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said in a report.

Investigators were called to Wild Florida Park about a week after an anonymous report said the shooting of the rhino was not necessary. The report said no action was taken against the park. The results were first reported by CBS. Orlando WKMG Station.

The report says a 2,000-pound male rhinoceros, the largest land mammal on Earth after the elephant, arrived at the park on September 18, 2022 around noon. Billed as an “unforgettable” Everglades experience and located just south of Orlando, Wild Florida advertises its airboat tours, an alligator park with over 200 animals, and a 170-acre car safari.

The report said that upon the arrival of the rhino, park workers told investigators that the animal was behaving “very wildly” and was tearing up its enclosure. The animal eventually calmed down and was left overnight, the report said, and the park was closed the next day to allow the rhinoceros to adjust.

The next morning, several workers were on site when the rhino broke through the main paddock. The report says workers have decided to strengthen the animal’s smaller quarantine enclosure. The workers decided to put the rhinoceros back in the isolated area, and if the animal breaks out of the pen, they will shoot at it with powerful rifles that were nearby. Video viewed by investigators showed the rhinoceros running back and forth and checking the cable fencing. He left the enclosure and then entered the cypress tree in the main enclosure. The rhinoceros kept pushing against the cable guard and getting stuck in the wires surrounding it.

The report says that when workers saw the rhinoceros break through the main enclosure and run towards the cypress trees, park owner Jordan Mann gave the order to shoot. The rhino was hit several times but managed to escape from the trees. The report states that the workers followed the dying rhino ⅓ of a mile and continued shooting at the animal until it fell and died. Judging by the shell casings, the investigators determined that 15 shots had been fired.

“For over twelve years, Wild Florida’s mission has been to provide an unforgettable Everglades experience that promotes connection with animals and inspires education and conservation. Unfortunately, sometimes we encounter unforeseen situations and circumstances that require an immediate response to ensure the continued safety of visitors, staff, neighbors and, most importantly, the animals in our care,” the park said in a statement.

The report said that out of fear that helicopters would spot the rhino, workers buried the animal in a hole, leaving part of its head exposed. No further action was taken by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission investigators, according to a September report.

White rhinos are known to be outgoing and calm, said Dr. Joseph Okori, WWF rhino program manager and wildlife veterinarian. “White rhinos respond to threats by simply running away,” he said. in an interview on the foundation’s website. “They run away, but the problem with them is that they run to a safe distance and stop, they don’t run away forever.”

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