White rhino calf set to charm visitors at Al Ain Zoo
Visitors will soon be able to see a baby southern white rhinoceros at Al Ain Zoo.
The calf was born at the zoo eight months ago.
A representative said the newborn was kept with his mother in a separate barn to bond.
“But now as it became old enough, it was sent to join the group of other rhinos.”
At Al Ain Zoo, a group of 11 rhinos – five males and six females – are housed in dedicated exhibit zones.
Officials said the zoo provides an environment as near as possible to the natural habitat in which wild rhinos live.
It also has a team of vets and animal care specialists to take care of the creatures.
The calf will be introduced slowly so that it integrates with the other animals.
This training usually takes place in a segregated area for the safety of the specialist and the animals.
The introduction of the young rhino is part of the zoo’s programme to breed and increase the numbers of this endangered species.
The southern white rhino is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Southern white rhinos have been at the zoo since 2008 under its conservation programme.
Worldwide, the near-threatened status animals have been making a comeback in recent years, with populations swelling to about 21,000.
The zoo sponsors several conservation programmes across the world, in collaboration with other scientific organisations, zoos and governments.
It conducts research on the conservation, breeding and preservation of several endangered species, and returns some to their natural habitats.
The zoo has joined up with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to support the protection and conservation of black and white rhinos.
It helps Lewa to track each rhino to protect them from poachers, monitor their health and carry out important research.
Al Ain Zoo is home to about 4,000 animals, from more than 200 species.
This month, it was announced that two newborn giraffes reared at the zoo would be rehomed in the emirate’s safari park near Jebel Hafeet.