Greater One-horned Rhino Calves Make Appearance At San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two Greater One-horned Rhino calves recently born in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park were caught on camera last week exploring their habitat with their mothers.

The zoo said the rhino mothers, Asha and Tanaya, gave birth to their calves on March 25 and April 11, respectively. After the mom-and-calf pairs enjoyed private bonding time, they emerged on May 20 to explore the Savanna together.

Tanaya and her unnamed female calf were the first to emerge on the Savanna, and the calf followed her mother over to the mud wallow for a dip, the zoo said in a release. The pair then went on to meet a heard of blackbuck antelope and other animals in the enclosure.

Asha then emerged with her male calf named Arjun for a stroll around the Savanna. The zoo said Asha led the calf around as he explored hills grassy areas before meeting a Javan bantang.

The zoo said greater one-horned rhinos are considered "valuable" animals according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Habitat loss, poaching and illegal trafficking of rhino horns are the animals' greatest threats.

Experts estimate around 3,500 greater one-horned rhinos remain in the wild. The zoo said it works with other accredited zoos to preserve a sustainable population of rhinos human care while also protecting their natural sanctuaries.

The calves mark the 74th and 75th greater one-horned rhinos born at the zoo since 1975.

“It’s great to see Asha and Tanaya introducing their calves to other wildlife for the first time,” Jillian King, senior wildlife care specialist at San Diego Zoo Safari Park said in a statement. “Everything is new to the calves right now, so it will be interesting to watch them explore. We will keep a watchful eye on them, and look forward to them meeting more of the wildlife on the savanna soon.”