Watch as a rare rhino calf born at a Des Moines, Iowa zoo takes its first bath.
A stand up, roll around shower, really. But boy is it adorable as mother rhino keeps close watch.
The Blank Park Zoo announced that the Eastern black rhino calf was born on Oct. 11 to Ayana and father, Kiano.
The facility counts perhaps 1,000 eastern black rhinos left in world, decimated due to poaching for their horns.
“The eastern black rhino is at a ‘tipping point’ in the wild – meaning that deaths, mostly due to poaching, will soon outnumber births,” Kevin Drees, director of animal care and conservation, said in a statement. “The captive zoo population plays a role in survival of the species, and Blank Park Zoo has partnered with the International Rhino Foundation to secure the species future. This celebrated birth should raise awareness and bring attention to this critical wildlife situation.”
Here’s the yet-to-be-named calf being born.
And, here’s the calf discovering pumpkins.
Mother and baby have really bonded, according to the facility. We wish them well.
Photos Blank Park Zoo/Facebook
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