Zoo Atlanta
May 23, 2023
Atlanta Zoo’s First Ever Southern White Rhinoceros Born Specially For The Holiday Season
Atlanta – May 23, 2023 – Kiazi, 21, a southern white rhinoceros at the Atlanta Zoo, is due to give birth to a calf. The rhinoceros has the longest gestation period in the animal kingdom, about 16 months. Birth is expected around December 2023, with the possibility of giving birth extended to February 2024. Pregnancy was confirmed in spring 2023 by animal care and veterinary teams using fecal hormone samples.
The calf will be the first southern white rhino to be born at the Atlanta Zoo. In his 134-year history at the zoo, he is the only other born at the zoo, an Eastern black rhinoceros cub born in 2013. This will be the first child for 12-year-old father Mumbles. Mumbles first met Kiazi in early 2022 after arriving in late 2021 from another Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) accredited body. This calf is not the first for Kiaji. Kiaji has so far given birth to three cubs at other accredited societies, one of which was stillborn.
“We are thrilled to announce Kiaji’s pregnancy and look forward to sharing with our members and guests the joy of watching a rhino calf grow,” said Raymond B. King, president and CEO. there is,” he said. “We also hope that this connection between visitors and young people will inspire conservation efforts and awareness of the immediate threats facing rhinos in the wild.”
Kiaji, whose name means “potato” in Swahili, was bred with mumble by the AZA White Rhino Species Survival Program® (SSP), which aims to maintain healthy and genetically diverse southern white rhino populations in accredited zoos. is recommended.
The largest of the five rhino species, the white rhino is not actually white, despite its name.This nickname is believed to be of Afrikaans origin Widmeaning “broad” – a reference to the shape of the upper lip of the white rhinoceros.
The southern white rhino is classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Poaching for its horns is a serious problem for all rhinos and has already led some species to extinction or near-extinction, but southern white rhinos often migrate in groups in the wild. They are particularly vulnerable due to their ease of action. for poachers to find them. In some cultures, powdered rhino horn is believed to have medicinal properties, but rhino horn is made of keratin (the same substance found in human hair and nails) and has medicinal properties. is not known.
Stay tuned for updates on Kiazi’s pregnancy, plan a visit or learn more at zoatlanta.org.