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RHINOS RETURN TO THE HOUSTON ZOO

(10/20/2010)

Three White Rhinos Arrive Via Cargo Flight from South Africa
Rhinos a Feature of The African Forest Opening December 10, 2010

(HOUSTON) October 14, 2010 … After a 54 hour trip from Johannesburg, South Africa aboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines cargo flight, three white rhinos arrived at the Houston Zoo on Thursday and are settling into their new home in The African Forest, a 6.5 acre addition to the Zoo which will open to the public on December 10. The Zoo’s new rhinos are 5 years old. The male is named Sibindi (suh-BIN-dee). One female is named Lynne and the other female is named Annie-Kamaria.

“The rhinos went First Class all the way,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. “They were accompanied on the flight by a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists from Kruger National Park and the Houston Zoo who had direct access to them at all times to care for them during the trip,” added Barongi.

The rhinos made the flight from Johannesburg to Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport in new specially designed 2,000 pound steel reinforced crates that allowed them to stand or lie down comfortably during their journey. After arrival at Bush Intercontinental Airport and clearance through customs, each crate was transferred to one of three flat bed trucks for the trip from the airport to their new home at the Houston Zoo.

“They seem to be settling in well and I’m really not surprised. The logistics involved in their transport involved months of preparation,” said Barongi. Prior to their flight, the rhinos received medical check ups, were acclimated to their shipping containers and caretakers and converted to the diet they will consume at the Houston Zoo.

About Southern White Rhinos

The Southern white rhino and the larger Indian rhino are the largest species of land mammal after the elephant. The rhinoceros has been on earth for over 50 million years, and it is believed that at one time more than 100 separate species existed. Today, only 5 species of rhino survive: White, Black, Indian, Sumatran and Javan.

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) is dedicated to the survival of the world’s rhino species through conservation and research. For more information visit the IRF on the Web at http://www.rhinos-irf.org/.

Habits and Characteristics

White rhinos graze during the morning and evening hours and sleep or wallow in mud holes during the heat of the afternoon. The rhino’s eyesight is poor but they have good hearing and a good sense of smell.

Adult white rhinos typically weigh between 4,000 and 4,500 pounds. Herbivores, white rhinos are the most social rhino species and live in small groups called a ‘crash.’ White rhinos have acute hearing and sense of smell but very poor eyesight.

White rhinos have two horns. The front or anterior horn is larger and can measure 37 inches in length. The rear or posterior horn is smaller and measures up to 22 inches long.

Status

All rhinos are under threat of extinction and all but one species is on the verge of extinction. Without drastic action, some rhinos could be extinct in the wild within the next 10-20 years. Currently, there are approximately 18,000 white rhinos in Africa.

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