ZooBorns

Florida's Newest Little Lady

Meet Laini, Lion Country Safari's newest "little" lady, weighing in at a healthy 50 lbs. Born April 28th after a 16 month gestation, this Southern White Rhinoceros calf will remain with mom in the rhino calving pen for about three months, giving the pair time to bond. After that, they will roam freely in Lion Country Safari’s Hwange National Park with the other White Rhinos, including dad Ronnie.

Notice the "insert horn here" nub on Laini in the picture below. Her horn will grow between 1-3 inches per year so it will take a while to get to a formidable size.

Laini means fragile/endangered in Swahili, and the Southern White Rhinoceros is indeed threatened by poaching and habitat destruction. Since 1979, Lion Country Safari has had 32 rhino offspring. Little Laini was born as part of the White Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA).

Delicate Rhino Nuzzling

When mom has a 2 foot long horn on the end of her snout, one might think it would impede nuzzling. Not so! Born Dec. 9th at Lion Country Safari, after 16 months of gestation (!), baby white rhino Jazi and mom Taraja demonstrate a good deal of muzzle to muzzle bonding.

And sometimes muzzle to rump.

Giraffes Make Big Babies

These adorable "little" guys were born in November at Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida. Little Kenya and Jumanji clearly both have doting mothers.