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North Carolina Zoo Welcomes Baby Southern White Rhino

The baby southern white rhino was born on January 5 at the North Carolina Zoo. Image courtesy: North Carolina Zoo

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro has announced the birth of a southern white rhino; it's the third in just under two years.

The female calf was born on January 5 to parents Stormy and Kit, weighing approximately 100 pounds.

The zoo has housed rhinos since 1976 as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, and today their herd consists of nine including the most recent calf.

Erin Ivory is the curator of mammals at NC Zoo and was there for the birth. She says both mom and calf are doing well.

“Right now she's learning how to walk around the barn and explore and getting used to building up the muscles in her legs," Ivory says. "She's very precocious. She was standing in about 30 minutes, and she's just sticking close to mom right now.”

Ivory says that while southern white rhino populations are healthy, numbers are declining due to things like poaching and habitat destruction, so it's important to protect the species.

Bethany joined the staff of WFDD in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University and focused on Anglo-Irish writing. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming Assistant News Director, Bethany was a reporter and Associate Producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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