Gene, a 41-year-old Kenya native who emigrated to San Francisco in 1978, passed away at the San Francisco Zoo, The Chronicle reports. Gene's health had been slowly deteriorating in the past few months and Monday evening the black rhinoceros succumbed to kidney failure.
Gene, who was named after longtime Rec and Parks commissioner Eugene Friend, was a big hit with all the kids and families who visited the park. "He loved to be rubbed, either by hand or with a scrub brush," handler Julie McGilvray explained, "and oftentimes he would lie down and absorb the soothing experience."
Gene is survived by longtime partner and exhibit-mate Elly and five children, three of which are living in other accredited zoological parks.
[Chron]
[NBCBayArea]
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