Moyo the Rhino, one of two eastern black rhinoceroses at the Birmingham Zoo, died last week after complications from routine health procedures, officials said today.

The 6-year-old rhino underwent a standard dental procedure on Thursday along with semen collection as part of a reproductive assessment for possible future artificial insemination, said Chris Pfefferkorn, president and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo.

“However, Moyo was not able to stand up afterwards after being awakened from anesthesia,” Pfefferkorn said. “Our staff went above and beyond to care for Moyo.”

Efforts included calling in a wrecker service to help Moyo stand and getting assistance from animal search & rescue specialists from Kansas. The experts brought in a large metal tripod to lift Moyo, but efforts remained unsuccessful after repeated attempts.

“After two days of heroic efforts by dozens of animal experts, Moyo was still unable to stand and there was nothing left that we could do to help him,” Pfefferkorn said.

Moyo was then euthanized late Friday night, Pfefferkorn said.

Pfefferkorn said the zoo’s team will continue to search for answers about what happened to Moyo.

He was born in 2017 and arrived at the Birmingham Zoo in June 2022.

The Birmingham Zoo has one remaining Eastern Black Rhinoceros, Kesi, a 6-year-old female who also arrived in June 2022.

Moyo is the second large animal to died recently at the Birmingham Zoo. Bob, the zoo’s longtime bobcat, died of old age at 19 in November.