Southern white rhino born in San Diego
A FEMALE southern white rhino calf has been born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park – the conservation organisation’s second rhino born following hormone-induced ovulation and artificial insemination.
This calf’s birth also is a milestone, as she is the 100th southern white rhino to be born at the park.
The mother, 11-year-old Amani, gave birth to the healthy calf in the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Centre last Thursday.
Animal care staff on hand to witness the birth reported that Amani did extremely well during her labour.
The calf is nursing well, and mother and calf are bonding.
Artificial insemination of southern white rhinos has rarely been successful, and this is only the second such birth of a southern white rhino in North America. The first was Edward, born to mom Victoria, at the Safari Park’s Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Centre on July 28 this year.
“We are so excited to welcome another healthy calf to the rhino crash at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Centre,” said Barbara Durrant, director of Reproductive Sciences at San Diego Zoo Global.
“We are very pleased Amani did so well with the birth of her first calf, and she is being very attentive to her baby. The calf is up and walking, and nursing frequently, which are all good signs. Not only are we thankful for this healthy calf, but this birth is significant, as it also represents a critical step in our effort to save the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction.”
Amani was artificially inseminated with fresh, chilled semen from southern white rhino J Gregory on July 12, last year, following hormone-induced ovulation.
Collecting and using chilled semen allows for additional generic diversity without having to move animals from facility to facility, the organisation said.
White rhino gestation is estimated to be 485 days – but as with any baby delivery, this can differ.
Amani carried her calf for 498 days. Paul Baribault, San Diego Zoo Global president, said: “The birth of each rhino calf is a moment for celebration. Although we rejoice with each birth, we know that the recovery of a species requires collaborative work to build sustainable populations that can thrive in native habitats.”