Wildlife

Only 3 Northern White Rhinos Remain in the World

One of the four northern white rhinoceros left on Earth died on Nov. 22, leaving only three surviving members of the critically endangered species.

Nola, a 41-year-old female rhino, lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 1989. In recent weeks, Nola suffered from a bacterial infection, and on Nov. 13, the aging animal underwent surgery to drain a large abscess in her pelvic region, which veterinarians finally identified as the source of her sickness. Though the procedure was successful in reducing the infection, Nola's condition grew worse, leaving her without an appetite and unable to move around, according to zoo officials.

When intensified treatment efforts were unsuccessful, the animal's caretakers chose to euthanize her yesterday, in what was a "difficult decision," according to a statement released by the San Diego Zoo.

Nola follows in the footsteps of Nabiré, a 31-year-old female northern white rhino that died of a ruptured cyst in July at the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. The deaths of these two critically endangered animals mean that just three northern white rhinos remain in the world.

Habitat loss and poaching have kept the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) on the brink of extinction for years. The three remaining members of the species reside in captivity at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, where they were transferred after living at a zoo in the Czech Republic. The four remaining northern white rhinos that roamed the wild of the Democratic Republic of Congo as recently as 2007 are now presumed dead, which means there are no known members of the species still living in the wild, according to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Wildlife

At least 19 elephants and two rhinos have died of thirst in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park.

The disappearance of nearly half of South Florida rabbit species' habitat due to rising sea levels illustrates the mounting dangers of climate change, according to researchers. The Lower Keys marsh rabbit was once abundant along the chain of islands between Miami and Key West. But aerial photos from 1958 to 2006 show that 48 percent of its habitat has been lost due to sea level rise. Only a few hundred of the species survive on a few of the keys.

Wildlife

The rhino population at Kaziranga National Park in India, has taken a serious hit because of the two waves of floods and a spurt in poaching activities. The park, a Unesco World Heritage site, has lost 39 rhinos in less than 10 months.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storm Nadine continues to spin in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Nadine just won't give up. The storm has been spinning in the eastern Atlantic Ocean in varying stages of intensity, since September 11.

In the Western Pacific:

- Super Typhoon Jelawat is located approximately 430 nm south-southwest of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Expected to make landfall in Honshu, Japan. All models now track across Japan and into the Sea of Japan, but historically storms are not able to cross Japan's mountainous geography.

- Tropical storm Ewiniar - was located approximately 345 nm south-southeast of Yokosuka, Japan. No threat to land.

A tornado has been reported Tuesday evening near the town of Okawville, just outside Saint Louis, Illinois, USA.

Poachers killed two rhinos and chopped off their horns as they had strayed out of flood-hit Assam's Kaziranga National Park in northern India to escape floodwaters on Wednesday.

Floods

The monsoon floods in Assam, India are also taking a toll on animals. Officials have recovered 537 carcasses of large animals, including 16 rhinos.

16 miners are trapped in a flooded coal mine in China. China has the world's deadliest coal mines, although the death rate has fallen.

Britain faces more severe flooding after more heavy rains.