International conservation, research and breeding programs have boosted numbers and now the Southern White Rhinoceros is the most abundant species of rhinoceros however, poaching pressure is still intense.
At the start of the 20th Century, there were no more than 200 Southern White Rhinos left in the wild. The Southern White Rhinoceros is considered endangered after having been on the brink of extinction. Taronga Western Plains Zoo plays a significant role in the regionally coordinated breeding program for the Southern White Rhinoceros and is one of the leading institutes in the management of this species. Aluka is one of the five Southern White Rhinoceros that were transported from Kruger National Park in South Africa to add important genetic diversification to the Zoo's herd. "From the ultrasound we can determine that Aluka is approximately three - four months pregnant with the gestation period of a White Rhinoceros being 16 - 18 months," said Pascale. "We have had great success with our breeding program for Southern White Rhinoceros at the Zoo and this pregnancy just builds on our achievements to date," said Pascale.
"It is fantastic news to see that Aluka is pregnant, everyone is very excited about the prospect of another White Rhino calf here at the Zoo," said keeper Pascale Benoit. International Reproductive Experts from the International Zoo and Wildlife Research Institute in Berlin confirmed the pregnancy of Aluka, the White Rhinoceros via ultrasound during their recent visit to Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
0 kommentar(er)
