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.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.7% Yes
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14.7% No
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2.6% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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