Sydney  - A sex-crazed rhinoceros that smashed through the steel bars of its pen in search of female company had to be shot with a tranquilizer dart to keep him within the bounds of Adelaide's Monarto Zoo.

Monarto chief executive Chris West said keepers used a helicopter to locate the white rhino called Satara in the open-range zoo while visitors were kept out.

"It was before zoo opening times so as soon as there'd been a realization then we'd have secured the whole site," West said.

Satara, 18, was captured in Africa's Kruger National Park and brought to Australia six years ago as part of a captive breeding programme. (dpa)