CUMBERLAND, Ohio — The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio has a new addition and she is pretty adorable.
The safari park and conservation center welcomed a female white rhinoceros calf that was born in the rhino’s large heated barn early Wednesday morning.
Kifaru, the 9-year-old mother, and the calf are both doing well and are continuing to bond, according to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
This is Kifaru’s first birth and the fifth calf for the father, 16-year-old Roscoe.
The calf is currently unnamed but an announcement will be made soon, the zoo said.
According to the zoo, the calf born Wednesday is the 23rd white rhino to be born at The Wilds.
The Wilds is the only facility outside of Africa that has had rhinos born four and five generations removed from their wild-born ancestors, the zoo said.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the white rhino population had diminished to around 50-200 individuals. Through conservation efforts, however, the population of white rhinos in their native range in Africa has bounced back to around 20,400.
Still, white rhinos are classified as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rhinos are routinely poached for their horns and an estimated one rhino is killed every 10 hours for its horn, according to the International Rhino Foundation.
“The birth of a rhinoceros calf is always cause for celebration! Rhinos continue to face many threats in their native range, and every rhino is crucial to the population. This calf joins The Wilds’ herd of important ambassadors – through them we can continue to connect our guests with these wonderful animals, and try to inspire everyone to take action to help,” said Dr. Jan Ramer, vice president of The Wilds.
Guests are able to view the new calf in the rhino barn during the Winter at the Wilds Tour running this season.
To learn more, click here.
