Maryland Zoo: African Waterhole

The African Waterhole is a large habitat that features three species: Plain's Zebra, Southern White Rhinoceros, and Common Ostrich. The Zebra are a trio of females: Addie, and half-sisters Stella and Phoenix. I have tell them apart. Our Ostriches are also a trio of females: Beatrix, Matilda and Norma. I cannot tell them apart. And our Southern White Rhinoceros are a 4 year-old pair of companion males that arrived at the zoo this past winter, and only recently christened JP (James Paul) and Jelani.

The Rhinoceros were born at a private safari park in Florida that is dedicated to the care and breeding of endangered species. The park is also a member of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). Prior to their arrival, the Maryland Zoo was home to a single male named Stubby. Stubby was born at the Knoxville Zoo and transferred to the Maryland Zoo at the age of 4 as well. He became a companion of our older female Daisy. The two became fast friends. So much so, that when Daisy died in 2016 at the ripe old age of 48 (for Rhinoceros, this is very old), Stubby went into an understandable funk. In early spring of 2017, a younger male from The Wilds (another AZA safari park in Ohio) was transferred to join him, but the two never got along.

In the late autumn of 2018, the younger male developed a rare autoimmune condition and in spite of experts being flown in to determine a treatment regiment--one that he initially seemed to respond well to--he died in late January. That's when a new course of action was devised. Stubby, who's DNA was important would be transferred to the Florida institution in exchange for the two young males. In Rhinoceros culture, too many males can be problematic. In the wild, they often form small herds or go it solo during non-breeding times. JP and Jelani had been been raised together since their birth and had a well established supportive connection.

Their orangeness is a result of the orange clay that makes up their wallow.  To keep cool, Rhinoceros will wallow in shallow pools to coat their skin with mud and clay.