Auckland Zoo welcomes first baby rhino in 20 years

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

A healthy female baby rhino has been born at Auckland Zoo.

The southern white rhino calf was delivered on August 14, and it marks the first rhino birth at the zoo in 20 years.

Auckland Zoo ungulates team leader Tommy Karlsson witnessed the “exciting and nerve-wracking” birth that has been heavily anticipated by staff.

“It was very smooth and very fast, and Jamila did a brilliant job by giving a couple of really good pushes to get her baby here,” he said.

“Her calf was walking within 25 minutes and suckling well by the afternoon. She’s pretty sturdy, her belly is filling out and she’s already getting a lot rounder.”

Karlsson estimates the baby rhino’s weight at 65 kilograms.

The rhino’s mother Jamila went through a 16 month pregnancy and one hour of labour, with her water breaking at 7am and the delivery of her calf occurring at 7.59am.

Regional Facilities Auckland chief executive Chris Brooks said it is a rare and exiting privilege welcoming a new baby rhino.

“Auckland Zoo supports the recovery of rhino populations in Zimbabwe and in Sumatra,” he said.

“Thanks to the Australasian zoos’ breeding programme, we have been able to bring one more southern white rhino into the world.”

Karlsson said it is still early days, and Jamila and her calf are not yet out on the Savannah.

“We take Jamila’s lead to do this at the pace she is comfortable with, and once she’s ready, we can’t wait for visitors to see Jamila’s calf for themselves,” he said.

“Rhino are such an incredible species that are still doing it tough in the wild, both in Africa and Asia. They are so important in helping maintain healthy ecosystems for themselves and many other species where they live, so we need to do all we can to help ensure their future.”

Since 2013, Auckland Zoo has supported the Zimbabwe-based Lowveld Rhino Trust’s (LRT) conservation efforts for both black and white rhino species.