Rhino fans are invited to participate in a limited-time online poll to pick the calf’s name.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay recently welcomed a female southern white rhino calf to the park’s crash (herd) of rhino. The approximately 100-pound calf, born to experienced mother, Kisiri, will join the diverse collection of African wildlife including zebra, ostrich, giraffe, and several antelope species that reside in the park’s expansive 65-acre Serengeti Plain.
Rhino fans are encouraged to participate in a limited-time online poll to determine the calf’s name. The names are based on the Swahili language, with options of Azizi, which means "precious treasure," Zahara, meaning "flower," and Zina, which translates to "secret" or "beautiful." The poll is now open and will close on Sept. 28, 2024. The results of the naming poll will be announced on the park’s social media channels.
Guests will be able to see the rhino calf in the coming days when she joins her mother and the remainder of the park’s rhino crash on the Serengeti plain. Guests will have the unique opportunity to watch her grow and develop – she is expected to gain about 100 lbs. per month!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Role in Protecting the Southern White Rhino
Native to eastern and southern Africa, when fully grown the southern white rhino stands more than six feet at the shoulder and weighs up to 5,000 pounds.
The species is currently listed at near threatened status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The recent addition to the park’s crash is part of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The mission of the SSP is to cooperatively manage specific species populations within AZA-accredited facilities such as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Guests can submit their vote at BuschGardensTampa.com/BabyRhino.
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