Maryland Zoo Rhino Prepares for His Big Move

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 19, 2020 10:50 pm

Stubby the rhino enjoying his mud wallow

Photo Credit: The Maryland Zoo

Maryland Zoo will allow visitors a virtual farewell with their southern white rhino, Stubby this week before he moves to his new home on September 28th, 2020.

Stubby has lived at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, United States for 23 years where he has roamed with the African waterhole exhibit alongside the zebra and ostrich.

Following the death last year of his companion keepers at the zoo have been working with the Southern White Rhino Species Survival Plan (SSP) to determine a suitable solution to give Stubby company.

Erin Grimm, mammal collection and conservation manager at the Zoo explained, “For most of his years at the Zoo, Stubby had a rhino companion. For the past year, he has been on his own while we have been in discussions with the Southern White Rhino Species Survival Plan (SSP) to determine the best course of action to ensure his continued welfare.”

Stubby the rhino at Maryland Zoo

Photo Credit: The Maryland Zoo

“Earlier this year the SSP and the Zoo decided that Stubby would move to a private wildlife conservancy in Florida that cares for a large crash (group) of southern white rhinos. However, due to COVID-19 and hot summer temperatures, we had to delay the move until now. While he will be greatly missed, in his new home he will have the opportunity to breed with the females in the crash. This is a significant and positive development not only for Stubby, but also for his species.”

Stubby has become well known at Maryland Zoo especially for rolling his massive body around in the mud wallow.

“We encourage everyone to come out to the Zoo during the next 10 days to say farewell to Stubby,” continued Grimm. “It will be bittersweet for all of us, but we are excited for him to become a vital part of the crash in his new home.”

For those people that can’t make it to the zoo the Maryland Zoo is offering a virtual encounter where guests can meet Stubby including getting a look at his skin, horn and the inside of his mouth. Guests on the encounter will also learn how keepers are preparing Stubby for his big move.

Stubby the rhino at Maryland Zoo

Photo Credit: The Maryland Zoo

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This encounter will only be offered three times this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with tickets costing $29 USD per device.

Maryland Zoo won’t be without rhinos for long. Soon a new crash of two males will arrive.

“We will continue our conservation commitment to the white rhino species,” concluded Grimm. “After Stubby leaves, two young white rhino males will arrive to take up residence in the African Watering Hole. As per usual protocol, the rhinos will undergo 30-day quarantine before being introduced to the zebra, ostrich and the public. We will certainly provide additional information on the new rhino after they have arrived at the Zoo.”