A zoo in Colorado is celebrating the arrival of its first greater one-horned rhino calf.
The Denver Zoo welcomed the little female, who is yet to be named, when she was born on February 22, 2020, to Tensing, a first-time mother.
The 13-year-old mother bonded with her little bundle of joy.
Tensing nursed, groomed, and napped with her new child soon after birth.
Tensing and her calf are currently being allowed to stay together so their relationship can strengthen.
The Denver Zoo animal care team is watching the mother and daughter for the next 6 to 8 weeks.
Brian Aucone, the senior vice president for animal sciences at the zoo, said while announcing the birth: “It’s a significant event for several reasons, including the fact that this is the first greater one-horned rhino born at Denver Zoo, and because it was another very important step in reproductive science for animals in the wild and human care.”
The birth of the baby rhino is more than important than you think.
The good news comes after a group of experts from AZA-accredited zoos conducted 11 unsuccessful artificial insemination procedures with Tensing before she finally fell pregnant in December 2018.
Lindsey Kirkman, an assistant pachyderm curator at the zoo, said, “Tensing’s journey from pregnancy to motherhood exemplifies the care our team provides to ensure our animals are able to voluntarily participate in their own medical care.”
Kirkman added, “It took extraordinary patience and dedication over countless hours to make Tensing feel at ease with the artificial insemination and ultrasound procedures that ultimately resulted in a healthy mom and calf.”
Tensing, congratulations to you and welcome to the world little one.