CUMBERLAND – The Wilds’ southern white rhinoceros herd grew by two this month with the births of two male calves, one born on Nov. 16 and the second arriving on Nov. 19.

The calves are the eighth and ninth fourth-generation white rhinos to be born at The Wilds – the only facility that has had fourth and fifth generation births of the species outside of Africa.

The first calf was born during the morning of Nov. 16 to mother Zenzele and father Roscoe and is the first to be born in The Wilds’ new rhino barn. Zenzele’s own birth was historic as she was the first rhino calf born at The Wilds in 2004. She has mothered four calves since then.

Her newest calf has been named Gilman after the founder of The Howard Gilman Foundation, honoring the late Mr. Gilman’s generosity to The Wilds, his unrelenting passion for conservation, and the Foundation’s shared commitment to protecting wildlife. 

The second calf, also fathered by Roscoe, was born on Nov. 19 to mother Mustang Sally, who was born at The Wilds in 2006. Sally has previously given birth to two female calves. Her male calf has not yet received a name.

The Wilds staff has been monitoring the calves and both appear to be thriving under their mothers’ care. These are the 18th and 19th white rhinos born at The Wilds; the conservation center has also produced seven Asian one-horned rhinos. The breeding recommendations are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) to enhance conservation of these species in their native range and to maintain a sustainable population of rhinos in human care. 

The births of the two males in November follow the birth of a female southern white rhino calf on Oct. 5. The young female was named “Faith” after one of The Wilds volunteers. Faith is acclimating to the main herd in the winter holding barn and will enter the pasture with her mother and the rest of the herd in the spring. Faith is the second fifth-generation white rhino to be born outside of Africa—and both fifth-generation calves were born at The Wilds.

In addition to this fall’s exciting rhino births, The Wilds also received “Top Honors” in the 2017 Edward H. Bean Award for the facility’s southern white rhinoceros program in September. The Edward H. Bean Award is a historic award within AZA, established in September 1956, honoring the first director of Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo and one of the founders of AZA.

The Edward H. Bean Award recognizes propagation or management programs that contribute to the reproductive success of one or more species and/or subspecies. The Wilds is the only facility to have produced fourth-generation white rhino calves outside of Africa, with the first being born in 2009 and eight more following since. 

The white rhino population had dwindled to perhaps only 50-200 individuals at the beginning of the 20th century, but through conservation efforts, the population of white rhinos in their native African range has rebounded to about 20,400 animals.

However, even with the increase in numbers, the species remains classified as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). All five remaining rhino species in Africa and Asia (white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, greater one-horned rhinoceros, Javan rhinoceros, and Sumatran rhinoceros) are persecuted by poachers who sell rhino horn for ornamental or traditional medicinal purposes even though there are no scientifically proven health benefits for its use.

The horns are made of keratin—the same substance that makes up fingernails and hair. The International Rhino Foundation, which receives support from The Wilds, estimates that one rhino is killed every eight hours for its horn. 

White rhino calves are born after a gestation of 16 months and they can grow to be 4,000 pounds and six feet tall at their shoulder. Their natural habitats are plains or woodlands, interspersed with grassy openings. Through reintroduction efforts, their current range in the wild is in southern and eastern African countries.

Their physical characteristics are two pointed horns and a wide mouth suitable for grazing. The name white rhinoceros originated from the Afrikaans word describing the animal’s mouth – wyd, meaning “wide.” Early English settlers in South Africa misinterpreted the word wyd for “white.”

To further protect the future of rhinos, The Wilds and the Columbus Zoo has provided more than $196,000 in the last five years in support of conservation projects benefiting rhinos in their native ranges, such as monitoring black and white rhinos in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld region through the International Rhino Foundation and protecting black rhinos in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Kenya through the African Wildlife Foundation. 

Those who are interested in seeing Faith and the two male calves before the spring can get a sneak peek of the young animals on special Winter at The Wilds tours. These tours offer unique perspectives and up-close animal encounters in several behind the scenes areas at The Wilds. For more information about Winter at The Wilds tours, please visit The Wilds’ website. 

About The Wilds

The Wilds, one of the largest conservation centers in North America, is home to rare and endangered animals from around the world along with hundreds of indigenous species. The mission of The Wilds, a nonprofit organization, is to lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife. The Wilds is located at 14000 International Road in Cumberland, Ohio, about 90 minutes east of Columbus. Normal hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from May through September, and on Saturdays and Sundays in October. For more information, visit TheWilds.org.