Guwahati, April 19: Mahesh, a male rhino, died at Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden this afternoon.

The 26-year-old rhino died of bacterial infection in his intestines.

After his death, there now remain four rhinos, two male and two females, in the zoo.

Mahesh was born in the zoo in 1989.

Zoo officials said the rhino had been suffering from stomach ache since yesterday morning.

Noticing his discomfort, the zoo authorities had called veterinary doctors of the College of Veterinary Science at Khanapara who had been treating him.

The carcass was sent for post-mortem following which it was buried by zoo officials today.

"Mahesh fell ill on Saturday morning. Our animal-keeper noticed his discomfort and injections and medicines were administered for pain relief. Veterinary doctors, who had been treating him, were called. But he died in the afternoon today. A post-mortem revealed that Mahesh had developed bacterial infection in his intestines," said Chandan Bora, divisional forest officer of the zoo.

"We are also observing the four other surviving rhinos. They are in good condition," Bora said.