Our Animals > Black Rhino > Azizi

Meet Azizi, the Zoo's Black Rhino Baby
Born August 31, 2000

After a 15-month gestation period, Inge (pronounced Ing' ah), Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's 7-year old African black rhinoceros (Diceros biocornis michaeli), delivered a female calf at 5:57 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2000. The baby, Azizi, is growing rapidly from her birth weight of approximately 80 pounds to 1500 pounds at 16 months of age. Inge arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in 1997 from South Africa. Her transfer was the result of a cooperative effort between Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, the International Rhino Foundation and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The reason for the transfer: to introduce Inge to the Zoo's male black rhino, Spike. After the carefully planned introduction, which included close monitoring of behaviors and hormone levels, Inge's pregnancy was confirmed in the spring of 1999.

Black rhinos are a highly endangered species due primarily to illegal hunting. In 1970, the world population of black rhinos was 65,000. By 1980, this number dropped to 15,000, and today, it is thought that less than 3,000 black rhinos remain.

Azizi's Parents

Spike

Sex: Male
Birthdate: August 5, 1992 at Cincinnati Zoo
Arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo August 19, 1994

Inge

Sex: Female
Birthdate: Wild born in 1993 at Addo National Elephant Park in South Africa
Arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo July 2, 1997

Could a pair of black rhinos, Inge (pronounced ing-ah) and Spike, provide offspring to help save this critically endangered species from extinction? Here's their story.

Spike arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in August, 1994 but finding a mate for him involved much more than placing an ad in the personals. After months of discussion with the South African government and with the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums, arrangements were made to acquire a female black rhino. Inge arrived in Cleveland by truck transport from New York City in a specially designed transfer crate. Prior to her arrival in New York, she flew from Johannesburg, South Africa to Amsterdam, then Amsterdam to JFK Airport in New York.

In preparation for the transfer, Alan Sironen, the Zoo's curator of mammals, and Dr. Tony Lesh, the Zoo's consulting veterinarian, travelled to South Africa to become acquainted with Inge. They, along with Dr. Peter Morkel, chief veterinarian at the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa accompanied Inge during the entire transfer. She arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on July 2, 1997 and was placed in an enclosure next to Spike's. The two rhinos could see each other and Spike had occasional access to Inge's indoor enclosure during the time she was outdoors but the two were kept separated.

Preparing Inge to meet and mate with Spike was carefully planned but it was a long, slow process. First, animal keepers worked on behavioral training so Inge would cooperate with daily blood draws. The blood was analyzed for the hormone, progesterone, allowing Zoo staff to predict her reproductive cycle. Records were also kept on both rhino's behaviors so physiological data, such as hormone levels, could be correlated with behavioral cues.

Inge did not have predictable cycles until 1999, perhaps because of her young age or change of environment following her transfer. However, by spring of 1999, Zoo staff could pinpoint receptive times. Inge and Spike were finally introduced resulting in two breeding episodes, one month apart.

Inge's hormone levels continued to be analyzed, confirming her pregnancy. The gestation period for black rhinos is 438 to 552 days - a rather wide range between 14 and 17 months. Inge's delivery date could occur from July 17 until November 30. Her calf could weigh from 70 to more than 100 pounds at birth. In the wild, young rhinos gain weight at the rate of 80 pounds per month and spend the first three years with their mother.