Chilean Zoo Celebrates Birth Of Newborn White Rhino

A momentous event unfolded at the zoo in Santiago, Chile as Hannah, a 13-year-old white rhinoceros, welcomed a newborn calf, offering hope for the endangered species. Silverio’s birth marks an important moment for conservation efforts, especially considering the challenges faced by southern white rhinos due to poaching and habitat loss. The success story comes at a critical time, crucial for safeguarding these majestic creatures from extinction with dwindling numbers of white rhinos remaining on the African plains.

Silverio’s Debut

Silverio, the rare male white rhino calf born just two weeks ago at Santiago’s Buin Zoo, made his public debut on Tuesday. At birth, Silverio weighed approximately 160 pounds, marking the beginning of his remarkable journey. After receiving 12 days of dedicated medical care, he delighted visitors with his first confident steps, marking a historic moment as only the third white rhino ever born in South America.

A Milestone for White Rhinos

Zoo director Ignacio Idalsoaga proudly announced that our latest addition is the ninth calf born to a species that is critically endangered in the wild. Hannah and Oliver, a pair of southern white rhinos brought to Santiago from sub-Saharan Africa over ten years ago, have become quite the dynamic duo, producing three adorable calves right here in this zoo.

Watch the full video here!

Challenges in Conservation

The director of Buin Zoo lamented that despite the best efforts of conservationists, a recent series of unsuccessful rhino courtships had dimmed hopes for breeding the species across the continent. Ignacio Idalsoaga, the director of the zoo, highlighted that in Latin America, there are several zoos where a pair of rhinos has been unable to produce offspring despite efforts.

Reviving Hope

As of March 2018, the last two remaining northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, a mother-daughter pair, reside in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy under continuous protection by armed guards. The northern white rhino has sadly reached the brink of extinction, but there is hope on the horizon. The global scientific community has embarked on an ambitious mission to resurrect the species using assisted reproduction techniques and cutting-edge stem cell research.

Conservation Call for Southern White Rhinos

The southern white rhinoceros, which are close relative of the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros, has been classified as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a globally recognized authority on the conservation status of species. This status serves as a crucial signal for the need to intensify conservation efforts to ensure the long-term survival of this species.

Resilience Rewritten

The majority of southern white rhinos, about 98.8%, can be found in only four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Back in the late 19th century, these majestic animals were believed to be extinct. However, in 1895, a miraculous discovery was made in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, revealing a small population of fewer than 100 individuals.

Breeding Barriers

Conservationists have emphasized the vital necessity to safeguard rhinos from the unrelenting poaching quest for their horns. The long gestation time of 18 months for rhinos and the need for numerous males to promote successful reproduction adds to the difficulties associated with rhino reproduction in captivity.

Poaching Perils

According to the International Conservation Union, humans are the sole predators of rhinos, contributing to an estimated 1,000 rhino deaths annually due to hunting. In Asia, especially China and Vietnam, has a market for their horns since they can be carved artistically and used in traditional remedies. This relentless poaching for rhino horns, highly valued in traditional medicine and illegal markets, continues to devastate rhino populations worldwide.

Giants of the Savannah

On a more hopeful note, approximately 17 rhinos are born each year, a testament to dedicated conservation initiatives and breeding programs. White rhinos, giants of the savannah can live for up to 35 years in the wild and even reach 40 years in captivity. These magnificent creatures prefer hanging out in semi-social herds on the vast grassy plains, where they stake their claim to territory by strategically placing dung deposits.

White Rhino’s Spa Day

White rhinos are mud enthusiasts. Delighting in mud baths that double as their ultimate spa treatment, cooling them off and keeping pesky sunburns and insects at bay. They’re not just rolling in mud and covering their young with it, they’re rolling in style.

Watch the full video here!

Insights into Social Structures of White Rhinos

The social structures of white rhinos are quite intricate. In some instances, groups of up to 14 rhinos are formed, with a focus on females and their calves. It’s interesting to note that adult males are known to defend territories spanning roughly one square mile, which they meticulously mark with vigorously scraped dung piles.

Territorial Dynamics and Courtship

Adult female animals can have a home range that is more than seven times bigger, depending on the quality of their environment and the number of other animals there. When a female is ready to have babies, she can’t leave the area that belongs to the strongest male, who marks and patrols his territory regularly. When males desire to impress a female, they may engage in physical conflicts, utilizing their horns and stature to demonstrate who is the toughest.

Strategies Against Poaching

Efforts to safeguard rhinos from poaching have led to the development of innovative strategies aimed at protecting these magnificent creatures. One approach involves injecting their horns with poison in order to dissuade potential buyers without causing harm to the rhinos themselves. Additionally, there have been attempts to dye the horns, although the effectiveness of this method is still uncertain. Another method, similar to trimming fingernails, involves dehorning rhinos, which is painless and serves as a deterrent against poachers.

The Video

On Tuesday, a team of dedicated veterinarians carefully watched over Silverio and happily pronounced him fit as a fiddle. Watch the video of the Chilean zoo celebrating the birth of a rare white rhino.

Conclusion

Comparing that to the early 19th century, when hunting almost drove the species extinct, is a significant improvement. The last few decades have seen tremendous conservation efforts that have saved southern white rhinos from extinction. It is a fantastic illustration of a resilient recovery in the face of danger.