Southern black rhino - IRF program

Kifaru Bwana said:
BTW: Taronga Zoo - Dubbo Western Plains is also part and parcel of this program!

There seems to be an interesting cooperation developing between Australia's and US participants in the southern black rhino program and the Kingdom of Eswatini. It is said a transfer between Western Plains and the Kingdom of Eswatini is on the cards for 2020.
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Taronga Western Plains Zoo hold South-central black rhinoceros.

For those interested, this is their current population:

1.0 Chikundo (Siabuwa x Pepe Kalle) 30/03/2000
0.1 Bahkita (Siabuwa x Kalungwizi) 22/03/2002
1.0 Mpzeni (Kwanzaa x Kalungwizi) 14/02/2005
0.1 Kufara (Ibala x Bahkita) 17/02/2010
1.0 Dafari (unk x Bahkita) 20/04/2015
0.1 Mesi (Kwanzaa* x Kufara) 11/04/2017
1.0 Pampoen (Kwanzaa x Bahkita) 31/10/2017
0.1 Sabi Star (Kwanzaa x Bahkita) 24/02/2021

They also used to hold the Eastern subspecies (michaeli), but have since phased them out with the death of an elderly female and the export of the remaining bull.

For more information, @akasha began this thread this week in which we’ve all undertaken some research into their history: Rhinos at Western Plains Zoo [Taronga Western Plains Zoo]
 
IndianRhino said:
I was under the impression that DAK held two males but not 100% sure. Apparently a male named Bomani (Badru's paternal half-brother) was born there in November 2001 (according to worldrhino.com) but there is no further information on his status. Perhaps he is their other black rhino? Nonetheless, I believe the park is planning on phasing out this subspecies because they are recommended to receive an Eastern Black rhino.
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Yeah I am unsure if they have Bomani as according to my visit in 2017 and the Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom show they only have a male and female.
 
Mai Thai said:
Yeah I am unsure if they have Bomani as according to my visit in 2017 and the Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom show they only have a male and female.
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I was under the impression Badru (2000) was DAK's only Black Rhino. I'm unsure on whether they have Bomani; i've never heard of him before. It's quite possible Bomani might be the female?
 
Jambo said:
I was under the impression Badru (2000) was DAK's only Black Rhino. I'm unsure on whether they have Bomani; i've never heard of him before. It's quite possible Bomani might be the female?
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Bomani is definitely a male and after further research it seems Disney only has two males, Badru and Bomani with no female.
 
Hello I have some information to add about El Coyote Ranch in Texas and their black rhinos. Calvin R. Bentsen and his wife Mary Margaret Harris (nicknamed Marge) were the original founders of the ranch and from what I can tell, their family still owns it today. There are some links bellow about the start of their black rhino breeding program.

Bring ’Em Back Alive
Edinburg Journal; Where the Black Rhinoceroses Play (Published 1992)
https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,958022,00.
html\Rhino sent to Texas for breeding - UPI Archives
RRC: Conservation genetics of the black rhinoceros (Diceros bi...

What I find to be odd however is there seems to be no trace of them in the USDA public search tool. Looking through there is no mention of Bentsen, El Coyote, or the La Coma Ranch. The closest place I can find is Canyon Exotic Animal Ranch but they only have one Black Rhinoceros so I don't think that is it. Does anyone have any more information about this facility or their holdings?
 
What is the current status of the southern black rhino program in US zoos and private collections? What achievements in 2022/2023 with regard to animal exchanges and breeding success in the US population? Anyone with more solid news on them?
 
Current population (not 100% confirmed):

Abilene
1.0 Uhuru (2001) Mtoto x Binga, Fort Worth - UNPROVEN

Notes: Uhuru arrived from Fossil Rim earlier this year after an unsuccessful breeding stint there. Male 'Macho' died last year aged eighteen.

Austin Natural Science Center
1.0 Tom (1997) Ngwete x Tortoise, White Oak - UNPROVEN
1.0 Moyo (1997) Zambezi x Nyshasikana, Dallas - UNPROVEN

Chehaw Wild Animal Park
1.0 Sam Houston (2001) Jota x Macho, El Coyote Ranch - UNPROVEN

Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom
1.0 Badru (2000)
1.0 Bomani

Notes: Unsure whether they still have both males.

El Coyote Ranch
1.0 Gota Gota (1985) wild - PROVEN
0.1 Victoria (1984) wild - PROVEN (last offspring 2000)
0.1 Margarita (1989) Unk x Victoria - PROVEN (last offspring 1996)
0.1 Jota (1977) wild - PROVEN (last offspring 2001)
0.1 Chilpotle (1998) Macho x Jota - UNPROVEN
1.0 Buster (1998) Brewster x Barley, Milwaukee - UNPROVEN
0.1 Chalupa (2000) Macho x Victoria - UNPROVEN

Notes: Male, Crockett, now at Fort Worth was apparently born here although this hasn't been confirmed. If so, it would mean one of the females has given birth not long ago compared to what it seems above. I would hope it was to one of the younger females (Chilpotle or Chalupa).

Fort Worth Zoo
0.1 Mtoto (1989) Macho x Chula, Mcallen - PROVEN (last offspring 2005)
1.0 Travis (1996) Gota Gota x Jota - PROVEN
1.0 Limpopo (1997) Chirundu x Gundawe, San Diego - UNPROVEN
1.0 Crockett (2014)

Notes: Crockett is said to have been born at the El Coyote Ranch. Mtoto is post reproductive now.

Fossil Rim
0.1 Coco (1990) wild x Jota - PROVEN (last offspring 1999)
0.1 Salsa (1996) Gota Gota x Margarita, El Coyote - UNPROVEN
0.1 Mupani (1999) Gota Gota x Coco - PROVEN (had an unborn fetus in 2011)
1.0 Dubya (2000) Macho x Margarita, El Coyote - UNPROVEN

Notes: Fossil Rim sent bull Uhuru back to Abilene, replaced with Dubya from Tanganyika. I assume the intended pairing is him and Mupani.

White Oak
1.0 Chirundu (1994) Macho x Thombi, La Coma Ranch - UNPROVEN
1.0 Tyson (2010) South Africa - PROVEN
0.1 Little Bit (2010) South Africa - PROVEN (last offspring 2020)
1.0 Rocky (2020) Tyson x Little Bit

Notes: White Oak have the only successful breeding pair in the region at the moment - both imported from South Africa in 2010.
 
Could it possible for any of these individuals to move to Australia if any of the younger females still able to get pregnant
 
Mr.Ivory said:
Could it possible for any of these individuals to move to Australia if any of the younger females still able to get pregnant
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Potentially although if you look at things there is really only two proven females within the region as a whole and three unproven females. I doubt there'd be much effort to send them over to Australia as such, especially when you consider aside from Little Bit at White Oak, the females are all older than twenty four.
 
Jambo said:
Austin Natural Science Center
1.0 Tom (1997) Ngwete x Tortoise, White Oak - UNPROVEN
1.0 Moyo (1997) Zambezi x Nyshasikana, Dallas - UNPROVEN
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Something does not look right here. I thought the rhino were at the Austin Savanna private facility. Unless the places are related somehow, the Austin Nature and Science Center only keeps very small local wildlife.
 
SwampDonkey said:
Something does not look right here. I thought the rhino were at the Austin Savanna private facility. Unless the places are related somehow, the Austin Nature and Science Center only keeps very small local wildlife.
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That’s true - I just got my info off the rhino database so this is seemingly more accurate. I would imagine they may be connected ie. sister institutions, but I couldn’t be certain.
 
Jambo said:
That’s true - I just got my info off the rhino database so this is seemingly more accurate. I would imagine they may be connected ie. sister institutions, but I couldn’t be certain.
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Hmm I don't think that they are related, the Austin Savanna is part of TDS - Texas Disposal Systems... garbage and landfill. It's an interesting company for sure. Austin Nature and Science is part of the city, IIRC.
 
SwampDonkey said:
Hmm I don't think that they are related, the Austin Savanna is part of TDS - Texas Disposal Systems... garbage and landfill. It's an interesting company for sure. Austin Nature and Science is part of the city, IIRC.
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Very interesting to hear then - I’m more inclined to believe they are apart of the private Austin savannah facility as there’s no mention of them at the nature and science center online. Probably a mistake on behalf of those who run the database imo.

I also see you yourself previously visited the nature and science center, so you’d obviously have a very good idea if there were any rhinos there or not! :D
 
The Austin Nature & Science Center is run by the City of Austin Parks & Recreation and only has small native Texas animals:
Austin Nature & Science Center | AustinTexas.gov

The Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Wildlife Game Ranch is a 1175 acre private ranch with more than 100 species:
Exotic Wildlife Ranch - Events Pavilion - TDS

They only host private events for nonprofit organizations currently at their massive pavilion building within the ranch -- but according to my visit with the owners in 2021, they intend to open the property as a public safari park very soon. And although they still list Southern Black Rhino on their website (which has not been updated in some time), they no longer have the species -- only one aging White Rhino named "Tank."
 
robbare said:
The Austin Nature & Science Center is run by the City of Austin Parks & Recreation and only has small native Texas animals:
Austin Nature & Science Center | AustinTexas.gov

The Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Wildlife Game Ranch is a 1175 acre private ranch with more than 100 species:
Exotic Wildlife Ranch - Events Pavilion - TDS

They only host private events for nonprofit organizations currently at their massive pavilion building within the ranch -- but according to my visit with the owners in 2021, they intend to open the property as a public safari park very soon. And although they still list Southern Black Rhino on their website (which has not been updated in some time), they no longer have the species -- only one aging White Rhino named "Tank."
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Thank you, that is very intriguing. Obviously they can be at neither then.

I’m thinking that maybe the Nature and science center has a secondary private facility elsewhere where these rhinos are held?

Unless both bulls are deceased and we’re in fact previously held at the exotic wildlife ranch mentioned above.
 
Jambo said:
Thank you, that is very intriguing. Obviously they can be at neither then.

I’m thinking that maybe the Nature and science center has a secondary private facility elsewhere where these rhinos are held?

Unless both bulls are deceased and we’re in fact previously held at the exotic wildlife ranch mentioned above.
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Austin Nature & Science Center does not have a secondary facility -- it's a single children's nature center inside a public park. And both bulls were previously held at the Exotic Wildlife Ranch (and I believe they originally came from the San Antonio Zoo), but I believe that both are now deceased.
 
robbare said:
The Austin Nature & Science Center is run by the City of Austin Parks & Recreation and only has small native Texas animals:
Austin Nature & Science Center | AustinTexas.gov

The Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Wildlife Game Ranch is a 1175 acre private ranch with more than 100 species:
Exotic Wildlife Ranch - Events Pavilion - TDS

They only host private events for nonprofit organizations currently at their massive pavilion building within the ranch -- but according to my visit with the owners in 2021, they intend to open the property as a public safari park very soon. And although they still list Southern Black Rhino on their website (which has not been updated in some time), they no longer have the species -- only one aging White Rhino named "Tank."
Click to expand...
Very interesting, I hope they do open to the general public soon!
 
IndianRhino said:
I was under the impression that DAK held two males but not 100% sure. Apparently a male named Bomani (Badru's paternal half-brother) was born there in November 2001 (according to worldrhino.com) but there is no further information on his status. Perhaps he is their other black rhino? Nonetheless, I believe the park is planning on phasing out this subspecies because they are recommended to receive an Eastern Black rhino.
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Correct, recommended to receive a male from the AZA program for Eastern michaeli. The change to Eastern black came out of a space survey at the time. Just both male minor are still at DAK till now.

@Jambo
Changes/Queries:
Travis to Forth Worth. When in 2019?
Dubya sent up to Fossil Rim on B/L. When in 20XX? Uhuru was sent back to Abilene only in early February 2023 only.
Limpopo passed away (assumed): Date of death?

Your data for El Coyote are certainly inaccurate. The ranch had a birth in 2019 and a female was due for a birth in 2020. This was pre and first year Covid. Check back the first page of this thread. So at the time the program had at least 3 viable breeding cows in the US (I assume the breeders at El Coyote are the younger ones).

Bull Crocket was indeed born at El Coyote around March 2014. Not sure about sire or dam (but given the 1.5 probably male Gota Gota).
 
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