Jabulani, the rhino calf that has been making headlines at Werribee Open Range Zoo, has made his public debut.
The eight-week-old southern white rhino is now exploring the zoo’s African savannah, going for a walk among herds of giraffe, zebra, ostrich and antelope.
Werribee zoo life sciences manager Dominic Moss said he is thrilled to see Jabulani taking life on the savannah in his stride.
“Since birth, Jabulani has been building up his strength and developing bonds with his mother, Kipenzi and his fellow rhino crash members in a keeper-only area.” he said.
“Just like rhino calves would experience in the wild, Jabulani has been nurtured closely by his mother to prepare him for this very moment.”
Jabulani was born to 15-year-old father Kifaru and 11-year-old mother Kipenzi following a 16-month pregnancy.
His birth and successful progress has been welcome news after his mother Kipenzi, who was hand-reared herself, had never experienced successful motherhood.
Weighing 55kg at birth, the calf is going from strength to strength and clocks in at over 200kg.
For the time being, Jabulani will be sticking close to Kipenzi and his rhino ‘bodyguards’, but he will begin to venture out more as a solo act in time to come.
Native to Southern Africa, southern white rhinos are classified as near threatened and it is estimated as few as 10,080 remain in the wild.
The Australasian Southern White Rhino zoo breeding program supports efforts to conserve wild rhino populations by connecting the public with the issues of the species, nurturing genetically diverse groups in zoos and initiating fundraising efforts.
Jaidyn Kennedy
