A white rhino born last month at San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been named Future for what the calf represents to rhino conservation worldwide, officials said.
The baby is bonding with her mother and frolicking in a maternity yard left wet by recent storms.
“Future’s new favorite thing is mud,” zookeeper Marco Zeno said. “She sees a puddle and she wants to roll in it!”
San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Twitter
Have you brushed your rhino today? : Keeper Marco https://t.co/t42cdoapr5
San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Twitter
Amani’s calf represents a better future for rhinos–so she’s been named Future. Her name not only celebrates the hope she brings, but also honors a generous donor who is a strong female leader and supporter of reproductive research. Details: https://t.co/knbL0P8Ubp https://t.co/E42hPqJMSx
Future is the 100th southern white rhino to be born at the park and the second conceived through artificial insemination. The first, Edward, was born to a different mother in July.
The zoo births using frozen sperm are part of efforts to develop knowledge needed to save a subspecies called the northern white rhino, officials said. Only two currently remain on Earth, and both are female. Several other rhino species also are being pushed toward extinction.