Four black rhinos, one of the most endangered wildlife species, died of pneumonia while being shifted to a private sanctuary in Kenya's Rift Valley province, reports Xinhua.

"A post mortem report carried out by Kenya Wildlife Service veterinary department has indicated that the cause of death of the four rhinos was pneumonia," the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said in a statement.
 
The dead rhinos were part of a group of 10 that were transferred from a sanctuary in Nairobi National Park to Laikipia West Ranch May 1.

The KWS, however, said the report was not conclusive and tissue samples collected from the carcasses have been sent for further forensic tests at a private laboratory.

The KWS said it has instituted a five-man task force, which will among other issues, evaluate the rhino capture and translocation exercise carried out between April 30 and May 7 this year.

The KWS said most of the black rhinos are bred in the park, located south of the capital, and then transferred to other sanctuaries and parks across the east African nation.

The NNP is one of the most successful rhino sanctuaries in Kenya with a current population of 65 rhinos.

Kenya is home to 84 percent of the eastern sub-species of black rhinos in the wild. There are about 3,600 black rhinos in the world and the east African nation hosts 458. 

--Indo-Asian News Service