The Toronto Zoo has had great success in breeding White Rhino. Their latest addition has been having the best time in the snow. The Rhino Calf is part of a conservation programme to increase the number of White Rhino.
Born on Christmas Eve, the young White Rhino Calf was a gift like no other. Conservation of rhino is a constant battle so every new life should be celebrated. In an ideal world, these magnificent mammals would have the pleasure of roaming free in the wild but with the sad reality of poaching, they are closely guarded and cared for in sanctuaries and zoos across the globe.
The Toronto Zoo in Canada had a mating pair and were blessed with the news of a pregnancy. The calf has not been named yet, the zoo has asked the public to vote for the name and offered up three options.
Kwesi – Means ‘Born on Sunday’ in Akan
Theodore – ‘Starting with T for dad Tom’
Matumaini – Means ‘Hope’ in Swahili
We love Kwesi the most because we love Rhinos and Sundays. Which one is your favourite? You can vote for the one you love here.
The zoo has been enriching the young calf’s life by giving him things to do on a daily basis. The one day they shoveled some snow into his pen and his reaction was the sweetest. He also met his aunt and got a proper fright as he had never met another rhino besides his mom.
Both calf and mom are being kept away from the public eye for the time being and will be moved to a public enclosure within the next few months.
While captivity is frowned apon, the zoo is part of a larger plan to maintain diverse genetics and to protect the species from extinction.
“The Toronto Zoo is part of the White Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan (SSP), which aims to establish and maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations, and overall conservation efforts to save this incredible species. One of the Toronto Zoo’s mandates is to educate visitors on current conservation issues and help preserve the incredible biodiversity on the planet. The Toronto Zoo is in a great position to bring forward the plight of the white rhinoceros and supports rhinoceros conservation efforts in the wild through Keeper events and the Toronto Zoo Endangered Species Reserve Fund.” – The Toronto Zoo.
You can watch the adorable video below.
by 