INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Zoo welcomed a new member to its family on Super Bowl Sunday.
In a press release, the Indianapolis Zoo announced a white rhino calf was born at 9:13 a.m. Feb. 11 to mother Zenzele. It was the first live-birth rhinoceros calf for the zoo.
“Zenzele is an experienced and confident mom, and everything is going very well,” senior rhinoceros keeper Amber Berndt said.
The rhinoceros care staff began overnight watches when Zenzele, who is a 19-year-old white rhinoceros, began showing signs of labor earlier this month.
“Our Life Sciences team has done a tremendous job. It is a privilege for our zoo to care for these magnificent animals and advocate for their conservation,” said Dr. Robert Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo.
Zenzele and her calf are doing well, with both being relaxed and content, according to the zoo. The calf is Zenzele's seventh and brings the total number of white rhinos at the Indianapolis Zoo to five.
The zoo said both mother and calf will be spending time together indoors, but the pair will be introduced to the rest of the herd, which includes Zenzele's grandmother Gloria, later this spring.
