Nola, the rare northern white rhino, recovering at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Good news from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Nola, the northern white rhinoceros, appears to be cancer free and continues to rebound from an apparent infection.

For months, keepers have been concerned about Nola, who at 41 is one of only five northern white rhinos left in the world after decades of poaching in their native Africa.

Until recently, the Safari Park had two northern white rhinos but Angalifu, 44, a male, died in December. Like Angalifu, Nola is considered geriatric and has been treated for arthritis.

In December, Nola was placed under round-the-clock care after keepers noticed her reduced appetite and activity level and a thick nasal discharge. Nola was given antibiotics. Tests were ordered to check for cancer, among other conditions.

This week, zoo officials said that Nola was doing well, and while she has a visible wound where an abscess needed to be cut away, she is healing “very, very well.”

Update: Since this item was posted, the death of a northern white rhino in a zoo in the Czech Republic was announced. Nola is now one of four northern white rhinos in the world; the others are in a preserve in Kenya.

The “frozen zoo” at the San Diego Zoo Global Conservation Research is keeping genetic samples of a dozen northern white rhinos in hopes of rescuing the species from extinction. The institute recently received a $100,000 donation from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation.