A POPULAR rhino who had been at Colchester Zoo for 46 years has died.

Flossy was euthanised on Wednesday by veterinary experts after they decided no further treatment could help her condition and her quality of life would be poor.

Over the last year, Flossy, a white rhino has been receiving treatment for a skin condition which appeared as weeping growths.

The condition had been kept under control and managed by keepers and vets and she had remained comfortable.

But her condition spread and she had developed arthritis in her back legs which resulted in a noticeable deterioration of health over the last few weeks.

A zoo statement said: "Flossy had a very loving nature and loved to sunbathe and wallow in the paddock with her family of rhinos but also enjoyed the company of her fellow neighbours at Kingdom of the Wild including the zebra, giraffe and kudu.

"Flossy had a very special bond with her keepers, some of which she had known for over 20 years.

"Flossy will leave a big footprint on the hearts of her keepers along with those that have known and grown close to her over the years, she will always have a special place here at Colchester Zoo."

The white rhino arrived at the Maldon Road zoo in April 1972.

While keepers do not have her official birthdate, it is thought she was born in 1969, making Flossy one of the oldest white rhino in Europe.

Keepers say although Flossy did not mother any young, she "played a very important role as a ‘grandmother’ figure" to a number of the zoo's rhino calves.