Budapest Zoo celebrates successful artificial insemination of endangered white rhino

Rhino Lulu, photo: zoobudapest.com

“There were many trials of artificial insemination, but Budapest zoo’s female rhino, called Lulu, is the first that got the baby and the whole insemination took place at the beginning of April.”

So how big is the small white baby rhino at this moment?

“I can’t tell you exactly the size. On the 22nd of August we made a 3-d ultra sound examination. That time the rhino baby was 18 centimetres long, so, not so big at this moment… But, you have to know that rhinos and births happens, can be around 40 to 50 kilos.”

So it’s a very small rhino at this moment. Is this normal? Is this ok?

“Yes, very ok. It’s very interesting because a female rhino can be within 2000 and 2500 kilos, and if you consider that a baby is around 50, it’s really a huge difference, because if you see the new born calf, it can be around 30 kilos, so it’s very normal, and with rhinos.”

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44 white rhino poached in four years

Only two elephants have been poached from the Kruger National Park during the past four years, but as many as 44 white rhinos have been taken, according to figures supplied in Parliament today by Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

Giving a written reply to a question from Gareth Morgan, the Democratic Alliance spokesman, Van Schalkwyk told him that two crocodiles and one hippo were poached in that time.

The worst hit species was the impala, which lost 109 individuals in the four years.

Thirty-one other antelopes were also taken.

Three lion were poached in 2006, and another was stolen earlier in 2004.

The only other national park where poaching was a problem (apart from the marine parks where abalone were constantly under pressure) was Addo Park, which lost kudu, bush buck, bush pig, warthog, common duiker, porcupine and also abalone, though no figures were given.

Source: The Times, 9 May 2008

Baby white rhino makes his debut

A white rhino thought by keepers to be on the small side and sickly when born in March has fought his way back to full health.

The 55th white rhino born at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire since 1970 now weighs in at about 100kg (220lbs).

His mother Clara has fed the six-week-old since he was born and he has rapidly put on weight.

They made a first official appearance together this week but the baby calf has still to be named, the zoo said.

Source:
BBC News 30 April 2008