CLEVELAND, Ohio — An eastern black rhino, one of the most endangered species in the world, has given birth to a calf at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
The zoo said in an announcement Monday that the male calf was delivered by his mother, 22-year-old Kabibbi, on Sept. 13. The father, Forrest, is 25 years old.
Today is World Rhino Day, giving the calf’s birth extra significance, zoo officials said. World Rhino Day is an annual day to raise awareness and support for the five remaining rhino species around the globe.
“Every birth is significant and is an opportunity to bring awareness to the conservation issues faced by this species,” Zoo Executive Director Chris Kuhar said in a statement. “We are excited to share this milestone with our community, whose support makes global conservation possible.”
The zoo says the calf is not yet on public view because it is bonding with its mother. The zoo plans to allow the public help name the calf in support of rhino conservation.
There are fewer than 583 adults eastern black rhinos remaining in the wild, the zoo says. According to savetherhino.org, it lives in southern and eastern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Hunters have reduced their numbers to near-extinction.
Poachers remain a threat to rhinos, as well as a lack of safe habitats, savetherhino.org says.
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