4.31 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Al Ain Zoo celebrates the birth of white rhinoceros calf

Published
By Ajanta Paul

Al Ain Zoo has a new member and they are itching to show off the newest arrival.

Al Ain Zoo is celebrating the birth of its first Southern-white rhinoceros within its collection of African wildlife.

The calf is currently with his mother and in close visual proximity to its herd.

Until the calf can go out on exhibit, it will be cared for by the zoo’s animal keepers in the facility adjacent to the African Mixed Exhibit. The calf is being monitored closely by the veterinarian team.

A rhino’s gestation lasts around 16 to 18 months. A newborn usually weighs between 40kg and 65kg and is unsteady for the first few days of life.

When threatened, the baby will run in front of the mother, who is very protective of her calf and will fight for it vigorously. Weaning starts at two months, but the calf may continue suckling for over 12 months.

White rhinos can live up to 40–50 years. Adult White rhinos have no natural predators due to their size, and even young rhinos are rarely attacked due to the mother's presence or preyed on due to their tough skin.
 
The White Rhino is considered the most social of all rhino species and is the world’s largest land mammal after the elephant. Despite their size, they are fast and agile and can run up to 50 km/h.

The majority of Southern-white rhinoceros lives in South Africa. About 98.5% of White rhinos occur in just five countries, which include South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda.

Almost at the edge of extinction in the early 20th century, the Southern subspecies has made a tremendous comeback.

In 2001 it was estimated that there were 11,670 White rhinos in the wild with a further 777 in captivity worldwide, making it the most common rhino in the world.

By the end of 2007 wild-living Southern-white rhinos had increased to an estimated 17,480 animals (IUCN 2008).