Bull was an individual male southern white rhinoceros and a famous conservation success story for his species.

[2] Bull was born in South Africa and was eventually moved to North America, where he lived in the San Diego Wild Animal Park and Toronto Zoo until his death in 2008.

[3] Although white rhinos are protected in South Africa, Bull and many others were taken into captivity under a breeding program in order to ensure the survival of the species should an unexpected disaster befall the main population.

[1] At the time of the rhino’s capture, he was named “Mtondo”, which translates from Zulu as a term for male reproductive organs.

[3] Following his time in the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the rhino spent the remainder of his life in the Toronto Zoo, with Ron Gilmore acting as his keeper.

[3] Throughout his life, Bull was found to be gentle towards humans and would approach the front of his enclosure, allowing zoo visitors to pet him.

On two separate occasions, faults were discovered in Bull's enclosure, but instead of fleeing, the rhino could be calmly called over by his keeper.

During the warm summer months, he would be showered after breakfast, something he greatly enjoyed, and would then proceed to the exhibit area of his enclosure either on his own or in the company of a number of female rhinos.

[4] Following Bull's death, the Toronto Zoo contacted the ROM to enquire into whether the museum was interested in taking on the rhino as an exhibit.

[3] Once in possession of Bull, the ROM contacted Len Murphy of Pine Ridge Taxidermy in Baltimore, Maryland to have him stuffed.

At this point, the hide weighed 700 lbs and was sent to soak in a 50-gallon drum of formic acid before being shaven once more to reach a thickness of only 1/16 inch.