For the first time, a white rhinoceros is born at Montpellier Zoo

Baby news. A white rhinoceros was born at the Montpellier Zoo (Hérault) on July 20, a first for this animal park, the municipal authorities and the zoo announced on Wednesday July 24. “Nola, an 8 and a half year old female, and Troy, a 13 and a half year old male, had mated over a year ago and the whole team was very attentive to closely monitoring this incredible gestation”specified the municipality and the management of the Lunaret zoo.

“The white rhinoceros is an endangered species, which is to say that this birth was highly anticipated!”rejoiced the mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, stressing that “significant work has been carried out since the end of 2022 to transform the enclosure and improve the quality of life of the animals”with in particular a “dedicated space for giving birth”.

🎉The City & Zoo of Montpellier have the immense joy of announcing three births:
🦏 A white rhinoceros, born on July 20
🐦 A southern cassowary, born on July 10
🥰 A coendou, born on June 23

Congratulations to the members of the Zoo 🥰

👉 https://t.co/lRtNkRmc5d pic.twitter.com/uWv9X8si41

— City of Montpellier (@montpellier_) July 24, 2024

Modern rhinos have been roaming the planet for 26 million years, and it is estimated that more than a million of them still lived in the wild in the mid-19th century. They have very few natural predators, but have been decimated by poaching since the 1970s. South Africa is home to nearly 80% of the world’s white rhino population, which is now estimated at fewer than 13,000.