AUCKLAND ZOO AND HAMILTON ZOO

MEDIA RELEASE

16 May 2007

Rare road trip for rhino

Motorists on the Southern Motorway today (16 May) may spot some unusual and heavy, cargo as Hamilton Zoo and Auckland Zoo transfer four white rhino between the two facilities – weighing over six tonne between them.

Three male southern white rhinos, Zambezi and his two sons Inkosi and Mtoto, will make the move from Hamilton to Auckland Zoo. In transit, they will pass Auckland’s southern white rhino male Kruger who is heading for new pastures at Hamilton Zoo.

Australasian stud-book keeper for southern white rhino and Hamilton Zoo mammals team leader Sam Kudeweh says the transfer is a positive move for the regional captive breeding programme of white rhino, enabling the extension of the genetic breeding pool.

“The captive southern white rhino population is carefully managed in Australasia to maximise the gene pool and ensure that we maintain appropriate populations with the space available. The transfer of male rhino offers Kruger an opportunity to breed for the first time, while enabling the exploration of new management options through the running of a bachelor herd at Auckland.”

In March, 15-year-old Zambezi became a father for the third time with the birth of daughter, Imani. Along with offspring Inkosi and Mtoto, this secures his bloodline for the next generation of rhino. Kruger, Hamilton Zoo’s newest addition, has to date not had the opportunity to breed. It is hoped that he will breed with some of the four female rhino at Hamilton, allowing the gene pool in the region to diversify.

Both Hamilton and Auckland zoos have been busy preparing for the transfer, with preparations and renovations ready for the respective new arrivals. The three Hamilton Zoo boys will join male Mandhla in Auckland to make up the region’s only ‘bachelor’ herd of white rhino. Their arrival will offer some new and stimulating experiences for all the rhino in the group. Mandhla, who is blind, will be exposed to new smells and will have a change in routine as the new arrivals settle in. Due to Mandhla’s blindness, he will be separated from the new group to ensure his safety.

While Mandhla adjusts to the newcomers, Zambezi, Inkosi and Mtoto will be checking out their new home. Although similar in size to Hamilton Zoo’s enclosure, the Auckland enclosure will offer some very new experiences. Zambezi and his sons will be able to see, hear and smell other animals (including zebra, ostrich, giraffe, lion and cheetah) for the very first time. They’ll also be sharing their space with six springbok.

In his new home at Hamilton Zoo, Kruger will join a bigger herd of four and will also be the only male in the Hamilton herd. Initially, Kruger will be kept separate from breeding female Caballe and her new calf Imani, but soon after his arrival he will be integrated with females Kito and Moesha.

As a result of a targeted breeding recovery programme in South Africa during the last century, there are now more than 11,000 southern white rhinos in the wild – a major conservation success story given that there were less than 20 of these animals left in the world at the beginning of the 1900s.

Australasian Species Management committee member and Hamilton Zoo director Stephen Standley says the transfer between Auckland and Hamilton zoos is working for the benefit of the southern white rhino species as a whole in Australasia.

“The transfer is an excellent example of Hamilton and Auckland zoos working together for the betterment of the southern white rhino species.” This sentiment is echoed by Auckland Zoo Director Glen Holland who sees this as an opportunity to assist the species and a zoo partner, but also to research a little understood piece in the international programme – the management techniques for a rhino bachelor herd.

ENDS

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