Rhinoceros Cage Doubles As Cannabis Den

(NewsCore) - A rhinoceros enclosure was being used as a cannabis plantation by an employee, Zoo Hellbrunn in western Austria confirmed Saturday.

A 59-year-old caretaker at the zoo was able to grow over 30 marijuana plants in the enclosure, the zoo's director told the Austria Press Agency. The small plantation was in an area of the rhinoceros' cage that was closed to the public and to which the caretaker had exclusive access. The zoo found out about its employee's side business when narcotics officers turned up in early September, after a tip-off by one of the planter's clients.

The longstanding zoo employee was fired and the plants removed, the zoo said.