Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket
A newly born white rhino stands by its mother at the Cerza zoo in Hermival-les-Vaux, France.
Aw! Cute!
 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevy Baby
That's an awful dark white
But, yeah; he's cute (or she)
|
The "White" Rhino is actually a misinterpretation of the Afrikaaner name, which, although I'm don't remember the spelling, is pronounced "vight". The word in Afrikaans means "wide" and refers to the shape of the animal's mouth, as opposed to the other prevelent species in Africa, which has a narrow, triangular mouth (with, by the way, a prehensile upper lip!) and is, merely by comparison, known as the "Black" Rhino.
Our black rhino, Pete, is actually one of the sweetest animals I've met. He loves to be petted and scratched behind his ears. He and his mate, Miadi, had a baby named Imara about ten years ago. I got to meet Imara when she was about the size of the one in this picture! What a sweetie!
On a sad note, Miadi passed away about four years ago. Pete was slated by the rhino SSP to get a new mate this month. The new female was en route from Kansas City last week when keepers transporting her noticed her becoming agitated and shaking the truck just outside of Phoenix. They immediately contacted our vet, who contacted the Phoenix Zoo's vet staff. The truck reached the Phoenix Zoo and the staff there was heroic in there efforts to aid the distressed animal. Sadly, the female passed shortly after arriving at the zoo in Phoenix.
This was a young, healthy animal. All precautions, training and protocols were in place for the transport. Keepers transporting her checked on her condition every two hours during the trip, and until they got to Arizona everything was fine. A necropsy will be done to try and determine the cause of death.
Needless to say it was a very sad day at the zoo.