Auckland Zoo welcomes first baby rhino in 20 years
A healthy female baby rhino has been born at Auckland Zoo.
The southern white rhino calf was delivered on August 14, and it marks the first rhino birth at the zoo in 20 years.
Auckland Zoo ungulates team leader Tommy Karlsson witnessed the “exciting and nerve-wracking” birth that has been heavily anticipated by staff.
“It was very smooth and very fast, and Jamila did a brilliant job by giving a couple of really good pushes to get her baby here,” he said.
“Her calf was walking within 25 minutes and suckling well by the afternoon. She’s pretty sturdy, her belly is filling out and she’s already getting a lot rounder.”
Karlsson estimates the baby rhino’s weight at 65 kilograms.
The rhino’s mother Jamila went through a 16 month pregnancy and one hour of labour, with her water breaking at 7am and the delivery of her calf occurring at 7.59am.
Regional Facilities Auckland chief executive Chris Brooks said it is a rare and exiting privilege welcoming a new baby rhino.
“Auckland Zoo supports the recovery of rhino populations in Zimbabwe and in Sumatra,” he said.
“Thanks to the Australasian zoos’ breeding programme, we have been able to bring one more southern white rhino into the world.”
Karlsson said it is still early days, and Jamila and her calf are not yet out on the Savannah.
“We take Jamila’s lead to do this at the pace she is comfortable with, and once she’s ready, we can’t wait for visitors to see Jamila’s calf for themselves,” he said.
“Rhino are such an incredible species that are still doing it tough in the wild, both in Africa and Asia. They are so important in helping maintain healthy ecosystems for themselves and many other species where they live, so we need to do all we can to help ensure their future.”
Since 2013, Auckland Zoo has supported the Zimbabwe-based Lowveld Rhino Trust’s (LRT) conservation efforts for both black and white rhino species.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
84.6% Yes
-
13.9% No
-
1.4% Other - I'll share below
I recommend Chunli's Table Tennis Club & Coaching - Panmure
Join the Chunli’s Table Tennis Club Training Program and embark on the road to becoming a champion! Experience the power of elite training!
This year, Coach Li Chunli made history by winning her 10th New Zealand Women’s Singles Championship, over 20 years after her last title! This unprecedented achievement showcases her extraordinary talent and incredible endurance. As a World Cup bronze medalist, Commonwealth Games Women’s Singles Champion, and five-time Oceania Champion, she is a legend in New Zealand table tennis. Now, she is focused on training New Zealand’s young players and developing an Olympic-level training program. Don’t miss the chance to train under a champion coach and quickly elevate your table tennis skills!
Coach Li Chunli not only has a stellar career but also extensive coaching experience and a unique teaching style. Whether you’re a beginner or a player preparing for competitions, she can create a personalized training plan tailored to your needs and provide forward-thinking technical guidance to help you achieve rapid improvement. Training face-to-face with a champion coach is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss!
Training Times:
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
• Saturday, Sunday: 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Whether your goal is to improve your skills, boost your fitness, or prepare for competitions, the Chunli’s Table Tennis Club training program is the platform to achieve your goals. Train with a champion and experience table tennis like never before!
Sign up now, limited spots available!
Phone: 021-1534129
Address: 44 Domain Road, Panmure, AKL
It’s Riddle Time – You Might Need an Extra Cup of Coffee!
Nobody has ever walked this way. Which way is it?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Loading…
