Southern White Rhino born at Busch Gardens
A female southern white rhinoceros calf was born at Busch Gardens® Tampa October 16. The calf is healthy and is currently being cared for by mom with the Busch Gardens animal care team watching closely.
Newborn white rhinoceros usually weigh about 150 pounds and can gain four pounds every day for the first year. White rhinos are the second largest land mammal after the elephant, and can weigh as much as 5,000 pounds when fully grown.
The southern white rhinoceros is classified as a near-threatened species with just over 20,000 left in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Kisiri is an experienced mother. She has had two successful births previously. The father, Tambo, has been very attentive to, and gentle with, his previous calves and the zoological team expects him to behave similarly with this calf.
