Denver Zoo officials are mourning the loss of a 21-year-old black rhinoceros after the animal's health caused the zoo to euthanize him.
The Denver Post reports that zoo officials euthanized Mshindi the rhinoceros Wednesday after doctors determined his chronic foot problems were causing his quality of life to decline.
Zoo officials say since 2014 they have tried 20 different procedures and therapies to alleviate the critically endangered animal's foot problems, including customized boots.
Mshindi was born at the zoo in 1993. His name means "warrior" or "champion" in Swahili. The rhino was taught to hold a paint brush in his mouth and create paintings that were then sold to raise money for rhino conservation.
