The Oregon Zoo has been keeping animal lovers up to date on its new baby rhino. Most recently, it shared the baby’s gender and gave a glimpse at his first adventure in the sun.
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On Feb. 6, 2024, the zoo excitedly announced that the now two-month-old calf is a boy! He was born to an 11-year-old first-time mom named Jozi on December 4 and weighed in at 100 pounds. However, he’s an impressive 225 pounds today.
“We’re giving Jozi and her calf plenty of space to bond. So we weren’t sure if the calf was a boy or a girl until the vet team paid him a visit — though we had our guesses,” said rhino supervisor Chad Harmon told KPIC 4. “This not-so-little guy is growing fast and Jozi continues to be a great mom.”
To celebrate his milestones, the yet-to-be-named baby took his first steps outside. Until recently, the weather was too cold for the little guy. But February brought warm weather and new experiences.
“He poked his little head out and walked around for a few minutes,” Chad continued. “Then he went back into the barn with Mom and took a nap.”
The baby rhino will continue to take short trips outdoors in the coming days. But he and Jozi will remain off-exhibit and spend most of their time in the zoo’s maternity den until spring.
Critically Endangered Baby Rhino Brings Hopes to Species
Jozi and her calf belong to the eastern subspecies of black rhinoceros, which are on the critically endangered list. The western subspecies of black rhino went extinct in 2011.
“These rhinos represent a species that’s among the most endangered on the planet,” said Oregon Zoo’s Kelly Gomez. “Poaching and the illegal wildlife trade have wiped out 96% of the world’s black rhino population. In South Africa alone, we’re losing almost a rhino a day. Hopefully, their story can help inspire a new chapter in the conservation of this incredible species.”
Jozi and her calf are incredibly important to saving the species. U.K. naturalist Steve Backshall says that only a few thousand are living in the wild today. The population continues to lose “almost a rhino a day.”
“Everyone is really excited about it,” Chad shared. “The most satisfying thing for me is to see Jozi taking such great care of her baby. These first few days are especially critical. So we’re being very cautious and giving them as much quiet time as possible.”
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