The samples from the rhinos unable to give birth contained an elevated level of a different group of bacteria, called Mobiluncus, which has been associated with poor reproductive outcomes in other species, including cows, primates and even humans. The samples from the two rhinos that had given birth had an elevated level of a group of bacteria called Rikenellaceae, which helps break down compounds that lower the animals’ ability to reproduce.
When Burnham compared the adult samples to each other over time, she found consistent differences between them. The samples were collected from two rhinos that were less than 2 years old, two that were between 3 and 7 years old, two adult rhinos that had given birth at the zoo, and two that had been unable to. Neville enjoys spending time with his mother, Livia, while engaging in playful, child-like behavior.“It’s telling a story about the stability of a rhino microbiome over time,” said Erin McKenney, assistant professor and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Applied Ecology at NCSU, and co-author of the study, in an interview. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Northern White Rhino Initiative is dedicated to saving the northern white rhino through innovative reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer. This is vitally important, as Livia is now among the female rhinos at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center who could potentially serve in the future as a surrogate mother to a northern white embryo. When full-grown, at around three years of age, he could weigh between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, and stand six feet tall at the shoulder.Īll rhino births are significant, and Neville’s birth represents an essential step in San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Northern White Rhino Initiative, showing Livia can carry a calf to term and care for her offspring. Under the watchful eyes of Livia, the calf often interacts with the two adults-sometimes engaging in playful behavior, including head-butting, or just curiously watching their activities.īorn at approximately 110 pounds, Neville is nursing well and gaining three to five pounds a week. In addition to spending time with his mother, Livia, Neville was recently introduced to two of the other adult females residing at the Rhino Rescue Center: Victoria and Wallis. The largest rhinoceros group in terms of population, the southern white rhinoceros is found almost exclusively in southern Africa from Angola and Namibia eastward through Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique, with smaller populations made up of introduced animals in Kenya and southern Zambia. Rhinos coat themselves with a thick layer of mud that acts as a sunscreen and bug repellent and helps to keep them cool. Rolling in mud is a natural behavior of rhinos. He can be seen running at top speed around the expansive habitat, frequently stopping to splash around and roll in mud wallows.
The energetic and confident calf is thriving and has been experiencing many new “firsts” since his birth this past August, including meeting other rhinos, and gaining enough stamina and bulk to now explore the two-acre main habitat at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center.
Neville, and all rhinos, was the focus of attention on World Rhino Day, this past September, a day to bring increased awareness of rhinos and the importance of conservation efforts to protect these iconic animals. The name was chosen by a generous supporter of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, in honor of a South African doctor who made a positive impact on the donor’s life, and on many others. A six-week-old male southern white rhino calf at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been given a name: Neville. 22, 2022) A male southern white rhino calf stands with his mother after playing in a mud wallow at Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
0 kommentar(er)
