Big Baby

Sometimes my job has its advantages... like scooping all of the "real" news sources in the Cincinnati area. Here's the latest news from the Zoo...


IT’S A GIRL!
Cincinnati Zoo’s Sumatran Rhino Makes History with Second Calf

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden proudly announces that Emi, a critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros, today became the first Sumatran rhino in history to produce two calves in captivity. Emi delivered a healthy female calf at 12:51 p.m. in her indoor stall.

“This is a historic birth. It is proof the science of breeding Sumatran rhinos has been developed at the Cincinnati Zoo and the first birth was not a one time wonder,” said Dr. Terri Roth, Vice President of Animal Sciences. “Because Sumatran rhinos are on the brink of extinction, this calf serves as a lifeline for a species clinging desperately to survival.”

Emi became restless early Thursday morning and started contractions at 12:04 p.m., Friday. Soon after delivery at 12:51 p.m., Emi began licking the calf. The calf first attempted to stand at 1:06 p.m. Emi and her calf will remain inside for the next few weeks to allow privacy during this bonding time.

Emi and her calf are doing great. Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, visitors can get their first glimpse of mom and the new baby on the monitors in the public exhibit at the Zoo’s Center for Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) and through Rhino Cam. The Rhino Cam, courtesy of Time Warner Cable, is a Web-controllable video camera accessible 24-hours-a-day through the Zoo’s Website. Viewing hours are subject to change.

In September of 2001, Emi gave birth to a healthy 72.6 pound calf named, Andalas. This was the first time in 112 years that a Sumatran rhinoceros successfully reproduced in captivity.

Good news like this comes at a critical time in the conservation of Sumatran rhinos. Today less than 300 survive in the wild and only eight in captivity. Emi and the Cincinnati Zoo’s male, Ipuh are on loan from the Indonesian government and are the only successfully captive breeding pair in the world. Only two other Sumatran rhinos are in the United States. Andalas currently resides at the Los Angeles Zoo and a fourth rhino, an older female, resides at the Bronx Zoo.

Emi had a history of early pregnancy loss before carrying her first full-term calf. During that pregnancy, Emi was prescribed a daily dose of oral progesterone. None was administered throughout this pregnancy.

Sumatran rhinos are a flagship species for the Cincinnati Zoo’s signature conservation programs. The Sumatran rhinoceros is considered one of the most endangered mammals on earth. In the last 15 years over 50% of the Sumatran rhino population has been lost because of poaching and habitat destruction.

I went over to watch the monitors shortly after the birth was announced to the employees. She's adorable. I'll be watching Rhino Cam all weekend if anyone is looking for me....

(Edited to add... there are pictures on the Zoo's website now.)