Cumberland, OH—The Wilds is celebrating the arrival of a greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) calf, who was born at the conservation center during the early morning hours of August 16, 2021. Sanya, an experienced mother, is providing excellent care to her little one and keeping the female calf close within The Wilds’ pasture.
The Animal Management team has been monitoring the pair and notes that the calf appears to be strong and healthy. Calves usually weigh more than 100 pounds at birth and gain a few pounds every day. An adult greater one-horned rhino can reach weights of approximately 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.
This calf is the ninth greater one-horned rhino to be born at The Wilds, and each birth is a significant achievement as the species nearly went extinct during the 20th century. Sanya, born at the Toronto Zoo in 1999, has given birth to six calves since arriving at The Wilds in 2004. This is the second offspring for the calf’s father, Jahi. Jahi was born at Zoo Tampa in 2011 and arrived at The Wilds from the Central Florida Zoo in 2017 as per a breeding recommendation through the Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to maximize the genetic diversity and increase the population sustainability of threatened and endangered species in human care. Based on an SSP recommendation, Jahi moved to an SSP Sustainability Partner facility in Florida earlier this year.
The Wilds is home to five greater one-horned rhinos and is one of only 19 AZA-accredited facilities in North America to care for this species. The Wilds is also home to 15 southern white rhinos and has welcomed a total of 25 white rhino births since 2004. The Wilds is the only facility outside of Africa with white rhinos born four and five generations removed from their wild-born ancestors.
“We are extremely excited to welcome this calf into our Wilds family. Every rhinoceros is important to the future of their species, and this calf and the other rhinos at The Wilds are wonderful ambassadors for their cousins in their native range. We’re proud of the success of our rhino program, and we remain committed to their care while also providing our guests with the opportunity to be inspired by these wonderful animals and empowered to help make a difference,” said Dr. Jan Ramer, Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds.
Once listed as an endangered species, the greater one-horned rhino has seen a steady population increase thanks to strict government protection. The International Union for the Conservancy of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™ now lists the greater one-horned rhino as vulnerable. According to our conservation partner, the International Rhino Foundation, this species has rebounded from fewer than 100 individuals to more than 3,700 today in their range countries of India and Nepal. However, these rhinos continue to face threats, including invasive grasses taking over their habitat and weather extremes like flooding caused by climate change. They are also killed by poachers who sell rhino horn for ornamental or traditional medicinal purposes even though there are no scientifically proven health benefits for its use. The horns are made of keratin—the same substance that makes up fingernails and hair.
To further protect the future of rhinos, The Wilds and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, which manages The Wilds, have provided more than $218,000 over the last five years to support conservation projects benefiting rhinos in their native ranges. The Columbus Zoo and The Wilds currently support three rhino field projects through the International Rhino Foundation, National Trust for Nature Conservation, and Akagera National Park (Akagera Management Company). The International Rhino Foundation’s project supports law enforcement, translocations, and community development to benefit the greater one-horned rhino in India, while the National Trust for Nature Conservation’s project supports the conservation of the greater one-horned rhino through rhino monitoring, veterinary support, and a community awareness program in Chitwan National Park. Additionally, the Akagera National Park project supports a reintroduction effort, including providing uniforms and rations for rhino patrol units, to help the eastern black rhino in Akagera National Park in Rwanda. The Columbus Zoo is also an active participant in the AZA's Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program for black rhinos.
The new calf may be visible to guests during either an Open-Air Safari Tour, presented by G&J Pepsi, or a Wildside Tour, presented by AEP Ohio. The Wilds is currently open daily through September and then weekends only in October.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please visit TheWilds.org and follow The Wilds’ social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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About The Wilds
The Wilds, one of the largest conservation centers in North America, is home to rare and endangered animals from around the world along with hundreds of indigenous species. The mission of The Wilds, a nonprofit organization managed by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, is to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife. The Wilds is located at 14000 International Road in Cumberland, Ohio, about 90 minutes east of Columbus. Normal hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from May through September, and on Saturdays and Sundays in October. For more information, visit TheWilds.org.
