Australia's first greater one-horned rhino born at Dubbo zoo
Updated
Australia's first greater one-horned rhinoceros has been born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.
The male calf was born on October 25 to first-time mother Amala and zookeepers report he is doing well.
The species is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List, with as few as 2,700 left in the wild.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo general manager Matthew Fullers said the birth was a reward for staff after years of hard work.
"To have this little fella born just over a week ago now is incredibly significant for the work that the team have done," he said.
"It extends on an enormous amount of work that they've done, not just here in Dubbo with this species but in the wild as well, off in Kaziranga National Park and other areas where they inhabit.
"We're the only zoo in Australia to have three species of rhino, and three successful rhino breeding programs, so critical for these species that are all threatened in the wild."
The zoo's unit supervisor, Jennifer Conaghan, said the calf has been seen suckling and staff are extremely happy with the situation so far.
"Amala is being very protective of him," she said.
"She is keeping her distance from us and keeping the calf close, which is what we expected to see.
"In the last couple of days Amala has brought the calf into a behind the scenes yard, and we've been able to monitor things more closely."
The zoo's greater one-horned rhino breeding program began in 2009 when Amala arrived from Los Angeles Zoo to join resident male Dora, from Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo in Japan.
Mr Fullers said every birth was significant because of the plight of rhinoceros around the world.
"The situation facing wild rhinos is devastating," he said.
"Taronga actively supports conservation efforts for wild rhinos in Africa, Indonesia and India, including providing funds and support for habitat protection and reforestation, anti poaching and rhino protection units and reduction of human-rhino conflict.
"We're also a founding member of the International Rhino Foundation."
Topics: animals, conservation, zoos, dubbo-2830
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