The first features White Rhinoceros, Burchell's Plains Zebra and Common Ostrich. The second is a walk through African Aviary with African Pygmy Geese, African Spoonbill, Blue-bellied Rollers, Furvious Whistling Ducks, Hadada Ibis, Hamerkops, Spur-winged Lapwings, Von der Decken Hornbills, Waldrapp Ibis and sharing the space Blue Duikers. The third habitat is home to Lesser Kudu, Addra Gazelle and Saddle-billed Storks.
Starting again with Stubby. Stubby is our 26-year-old Southern White Rhinoceros. He has been with us for the past 23 years, moving from the Knoxville Zoo where he was born in back in 1994. He is the current king of the zoo. At 26, he's in his prime, and the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) has decided that he needs a change and an opportunity to pass on his DNA. To that end, he will be leaving us within the next couple of months to take up residence at The White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida. There he will have a chance to be a part of a much larger community of Southern White Rhinos, and perhaps most importantly of all, pass on his genes to a new generation.
It is a happy, sad thing. In September, we will receive a pair of young bulls Southern White Rhinoceros from Yulee's herd to continue our work in promoting public awareness and appreciation of this magnificent species. Modern zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks are not the "owners" of their animals. We are their stewards. And working together is our best and only chance at preventing so many of them from going extinct.
This is maybe a fifth of the total area of this shared habitat. One of the things that I love about the Maryland Zoo is the large amount of space in which the animals have to live.
Southern White Rhinoceros (a la orange clay wallow)
Ceratotherium simum simum
Common Ostrich
Struthio camelus
The Maryland Zoo is home to three females: Matilda, Beatrix, and Norma.
Burchell's Plains Zebra
Equus quagga burcehllii
This is Phoenix
This is Stella
I didn't get a pic of Addie today.
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