Czech zoo cheers birth of endangered eastern black rhino
Experts say an eastern black rhinoceros born in a Czech zoo is a small but important step in efforts to save the animals from extinction.
Only a few hundred remain in African reserves, where they must be protected from poachers. Some 140 are in European zoos.
The rhino was born on Oct. 2 in the Dvur Kralove Zoo, which boasts the greatest number of the animals in Europe.
Curator Jan Zdarek says the calf has been in good shape and will stay with her mother, Etosha, for at least a couple of years.
After that, she might join four others from the zoo that were taken to their native habitat in Africa.
Zdarek says it is still not clear whether efforts to save the black rhinos will be successful.
-
A newly born eastern black rhino eats a pumpkin in its enclosure at the zoo in Dvur Kralove, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. An eastern black rhinoceros born in a Czech zoo is a small but important step in efforts to save the subspecies of the black rhinoceros from extinction. There are only last few hundreds remaining in African reserves, where they must be protected from poachers. The calf born on Oct 2 in the Dvur Kralove zoo is in good shape. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) -
A newly born eastern black rhino stands next to its mother Etosha in their enclosure at the zoo in Dvur Kralove, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. An eastern black rhinoceros born in a Czech zoo is a small but important step in efforts to save the subspecies of the black rhinoceros from extinction. There're only last few hundreds remaining in African reserves, where they must be protected from poachers. The calf born on Oct 2 in the Dvur Kralove zoo is in good shape. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
© 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
