Denver Zoo welcomes first ever baby greater one-horned rhino
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Denver Zoo is one rhino richer after a member of the herd became a mother Saturday morning.
The proud mama, 13-year-old Tensing, gave birth to a healthy female calf over the weekend, zoo officials reported Tuesday.
Officials say this is the first ever greater one-horned rhino born at the zoo.
“The birth of this calf is the result of a truly heroic effort by our animal care, health and science teams and partners from other zoos to support the species,” said Brian Aucone, Senior Vice President for Animal Sciences in a release.
We first reported on Tensing's pregnancy back in September 2019 when the zoo announced she was due in spring 2020.
“Tensing’s journey from pregnancy to motherhood exemplifies the care our team provides to ensure our animals are able to voluntarily participate in their own medical care,” said Assistant Pachyderm Curator Lindsey Kirkman in a statement. “It took extraordinary patience and dedication over countless hours to make Tensing feel at ease with the artificial insemination and ultrasound procedures that ultimately resulted in a healthy mom and calf.”
But rhino enthusiasts will have to wait a bit longer before they can see the calf -- currently unnamed -- in person. The zoo says she'll remain out of the public eye for at least six to eight weeks to allow for mother-daughter bonding time.
The birth of a healthy calf is particularly momentous given the species's return from the brink of extinction and its current "Vulnerable" status by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. About 3,500 individual greater one-horned rhinos exist worldwide, according to the zoo.
