NEWS

Blank Park Zoo's baby rhino officially named

Aaron Young

ayoung2@dmreg.com

Hello, world: Meet Tumani.

The Blank Park Zoo's baby rhino calf was officially named on Wednesday at the zoo's indoor rhino exhibit, three months after her birth.

An unnamed endangered black baby rhino was born to Blank Park ZooÕs mom Ayana and dad Kiano, the south side parkÕs rare eastern black rhinos, at about 11:23 a.m. Oct. 11 on the zooÕs grounds. The female, 80-pound calf is likely the first endangered rhino born in the state of Iowa, according to the zoo, shown here Monday Oct. 17, 2016, at the zoo's rhino enclosure.
ÒThis is an extremely significant event Ñ not only in Blank Park ZooÕs 50 year history, but also for this critically endangered animal species,Ó said Mark Vukovich, the zooÕs CEO.

Tumani means "hopeful" in Swahili. It was decided by voters among four other Swahili names. To vote, anyone who gave $50 or more between Nov. 29 and Dec. 31 to the nonprofit zoo had the opportunity to suggest a name.

200 names were submitted before cutting the list down to just five names, Kevin Drees, director of animal care and conservation at the zoo, said in a news release last week.

“We wanted to have a fun way for the public to be involved with naming the rhino calf, generate needed funds for Blank Park Zoo and raise awareness about the plight of the eastern black rhino in the wild,” Blank Park Zoo CEO Mark Vukovich said in the initial release about the naming process.

MORE BABY RHINO:

Tumani was born on Oct. 11 and weighed 80 pounds. She already has gained about 200 pounds, and is on exhibit daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The eastern black rhinos, including those at the Blank Park Zoo, are listed as critically endangered by the World Wildlife Fund. There are fewer than 1,000 in the wild and in captive populations combined.