Photo:Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta
Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Atlantaannouncedon Christmas that one of its southern white rhinoceroses named Kiazi gave birth to a calf on Christmas Eve, marking the first time this specific breed of rhino was born at the zoo and the second time a rhino was born there overall.
“The Zoo Atlanta family is beyond excited about the birth of Kiazi’s calf. This birth has been long-awaited news for many months,” said Raymond B. King, president and CEO, in the news release. ”We have had many exciting developments in our rhino population over the past year.”
Zoo Atlanta noted that the calf “appears to be healthy and strong, and that its mother Kiazi is “providing appropriate maternal care,” as she previously gave birth to two calves before moving to the zoo in 2021.
“Mother and calf will have an opportunity to continue to bond behind the scenes before entering the rhino habitat,” the zoo said.
Kiazi has had a long journey to giving birth to the calf, as southern white rhinoceros pregnancies are “among the animal kingdom’s longest” and usually average between 16 months and 18 months, according to the zoo.
“If there is a special connection that our Members and guests can make with Kiazi and her calf, this is a connection that can translate to conservation action,” King noted. “All rhino species are currently in peril, and as stewards of this brand-new ambassador here in Atlanta, we also have a responsibility to do all we can to raise awareness of the status of wild rhinos.”
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The last time a rhino calf was born at the zoo was in 2013, and the eastern black rhino had been the first rhino in the zoo’s 134-year history.
White rhinos can be found in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, according toWorld Wildlife, and there are only about 18,000 of the species that exist in “protected areas and private game reserves.”
source: people.com
