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Critically endangered rhino makes its public debut on Friday cleveland The zoo is taking precautions about its enclosure and promoting endangered species.
The 120-pound (55 kg) eastern black rhinoceros was born earlier this month at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to 22-year-old mother Kibby and 25-year-old father Forrest. The zoo has a long history of caring for the species, working with global partners, with less than 583 adults remaining in the wild.
“He’s very playful, running around, jumping, so it’s a lot of fun to take care of him, especially when they’re this age,” said animal keeper Stephanie Titterington as the calf explored Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve.
Alex Budinger, a visitor to the zoo, was thrilled to get a glimpse of the rhinoceros, which has not yet been named. The zoo is holding a competition for guests to choose one of three names – Makena, Kenja or Kamari.
“We’re members of the zoo. We come here all the time, so we’re very excited that a new baby is going to come and see him and we thought it was a great day to come out and see the rhinos,” Budinger said. “It’s adorable and we enjoy coming here and watching it do some breeding and munch on some pumpkins.”
South Africa More than 2,000 of the 6,700 black rhinos left in the wild or in reserves and 12,000 to 13,000 of the world’s 15,000 remaining southern white rhinos are now listed as near-endangered after the change. Those two species are found only in the forests of Africa. South Africa plays an important role in protecting them but it is also the center of rhino poaching which is linked to organized crime.
The eastern black rhinoceros is one of several subspecies of the black rhinoceros.