July 5th, 2012. This is a quite superb area that features black rhinos, and there have been two calves born here in the past 7 years so the zoo is contributing to the SSP (Species Survival Plan). There are two outdoor habitats that are not huge but are a decent size and they feature mud wallows, scratching posts, numerous boulders and grassy zones. A male black rhino was in the larger enclosure and he even graced us with a spray of urine that fell about 6 feet short of getting us wet. There is a small concrete slab surrounded by cement posts that is an adjoining gateway between the two enclosures, and I can imagine keeper talks taking place here while a rhino is contained in front of the public. The second rhino yard is a little smaller and on our visit contained a mother and calf, and both never stopped moving as they explored their exhibit. The barn is accessed by the public and there are loads of interpretative graphics, cool-looking signs and interactive elements that involve all the rhino species. The entire area is devoted to getting the message across that rhinos are amazing creatures and I was duly impressed.
