Baby rhino makes (adorable) public debut at Blank Park Zoo
You’ve seen the photos, now you can see Des Moines’ baby rhino in the flesh.
The rhino calf went on exhibit for public viewing in her habitat at the Blank Park Zoo on Friday.
“Both mom and calf are doing well and we are now in a situation where the general public will be able to see the calf daily,” Mark Vukovich, the zoo’s CEO, said in the release.
Though the calf is expected to be on exhibit daily, the release cautioned that she does take a lot of naps in an area that is not visible to the public, so visitors may have to come back to the rhino barn a few times to see the baby up and moving.
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The baby is going on exhibit earlier than expected due to mother “Ayana taking proper care of the calf and the hard work of the zookeepers,” the release noted.
Since being born on Oct. 11, the baby has had her first bath and gained about 60 pounds. She now weighs between 135 and 140 pounds.
And, yes, the zoo promises that the baby rhino will eventually be named. Beginning on #GivingTuesday, November 29, through December 31 everyone who gives at least $50 to the zoo, a nonprofit organization, can suggest a name for the female rhino calf. The name will picked from those and announced in January.
Check BlankParkZoo.com for information on zoo hours and details on the naming promotion.
See more of the rhino:
