New bundle of joy marks the 10th birth of species at the Zoo
TAMPA, Fla. (March 27, 2026) – ZooTampa at Lowry Park is celebrating the arrival of a special and very important member to its southern white rhino crash (the term for a group of rhinos). The new female calf was born on Sunday, March 22, at approximately 3:30 a.m. and has been named Kelele, meaning “noise” and “highest peak” in Swahili.
The 80-to-100-pound baby appears strong and is nursing alongside her experienced mother, 22-year-old Kidogo. Notably, the calf has small tufts of white hair on her ears, a feature previously unseen in rhinos at the Zoo.
Kidogo was paired with male Mufasa as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan® (SSP), which supports a healthy, genetically diverse population.
“Kidogo did well with the birth of her seventh baby, and she has been very attentive. The birth is also special for second-time dad, Mufasa, with the arrival of his first daughter. The calf is a critical step in our ongoing effort to save the imperiled species from extinction,” said Chris Massaro, Senior VP, Chief Zoological Officer. “Each calf born here represents a strong, multigenerational crash that contributes to conservation efforts around the world.”
Southern white rhinos, the second-largest land mammals after elephants, have a gestation period of 16 to 18 months and typically give birth every two to five years. At full maturity, they can grow to 12 to 13 feet long, stand up to six feet tall at the shoulder, and weigh between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds. They can live 40 to 50 years and run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
Once near extinction with fewer than 100 individuals in the wild at the start of the 20th century, the southern white rhino population has rebounded to approximately 16,800 across 11 African countries due to global conservation efforts. However, poaching continues to threaten their future.
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