Zoo Atlanta Add Second Rhino to Their Crash

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 12, 2021 1:10 pm

Kiazi the southern white rhinoceros prior to her move to Zoo Atlanta at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Photo Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Some special cargo arrived at Zoo Atlanta on October 11th 2021. Kiazi a 19 year old female southern white rhinoceros made the move to Atlanta from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in California.

Her cross-country move was a recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) White Rhino Species Survival Plan® (SSP).

The name Kiazi means “sweet potato.” The SSP recommended that Kiazi join Mumbles, the 10 year old male southern white rhinoceros who has lived at Zoo Atlanta since 2020. He arrived soon after the zoo opened its new African Savanna complex.

Kiazi is currently settling in at the indoor portion of the zoo’s southern white rhinoceros habitat. She will be given some time to settle in before being given the chance to explore the outdoor habitat.

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“We are so excited to welcome Kiazi to Zoo Atlanta,” said Jennifer Mickelberg, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation.

Southern white rhinoceros are one of the five rhino species. Despite their name their skin is actually grey not white. Their name is believed to be a misunderstanding of the Afrikaans word wyd meaning “wide.” Their name references the wide upper lip.

Poaching is a significant threat to all rhinos and has caused the extinction of some species and subspecies. White rhinos are some of the easiest for poachers to locate as they travel in herds.

“Rhinos are animals with an urgent conservation message. We want our Members and guests to get to know Kiazi – and, if they have not already been permanently charmed by him, Mumbles – so that they can understand the things they can do in their daily lives to preserve these extraordinary animals in the wild,” added Mickelberg.

Learn more about White Rhinos here – White Rhino Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about Zoo Atlanta on their website – Zoo Atlanta