Zoo Tampa at Lowery Park has welcomed a baby southern white rhino to the family!
ZooTampa’s southern white rhino crash (the term for a group of rhinos) has grown with the exciting arrival of a newborn calf!
The male calf was born during the evening hours of Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The baby rhino appears to be strong and is nursing alongside his experienced mother, 19-year-old Kidogo.
Kidogo was paired with male Mufasa as part of the Species Survival Plans, overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which ensures the survival of protected, threatened, and endangered species.
“We are excited to welcome another healthy calf,” said Chris Massaro, Senior VP, Zoological Operations. “Kidogo did great with the birth of her sixth baby, and she is being very attentive. The birth is also special for first-time dad, Mufasa. The calf is a critical step in our continued effort to save the imperiled species from extinction.”
The Zoo is home to seven rhinos: male Mufasa; females Kidogo, Alake, Fugo; and juveniles Ruby and Kayin and the new male calf.
The second-largest land mammal after elephants, rhinos are pregnant for 16 to 18 months and only give birth every two to five years. At full maturity, a southern white rhino will have two horns, grow 12 to 13 feet long and up to 6 feet from hoof to shoulder, and weigh 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. They can live 40 to 50 years and run at impressive speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
At the beginning of the 20th century, southern white rhinos were hunted to near extinction for their horns, which some erroneously believe provide medicinal benefits. Rhino horn is constructed from keratin, the same material that makes up human fingernails and hair. There are currently approximately 16,803 southern white rhinos left in the wild, across 11 countries in Africa.
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