ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials with Disney’s Animal Kingdom announced this week that the theme park has welcomed its third white rhino calf in the last 13 months, WFTV reported.
Dr. Mark Penning, the vice president of animals, science and environment for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced the birth Wednesday in an Instagram post.
“Our team of animal care experts welcomed our newest baby animal to the family late last night – an adorable white rhino calf,” he wrote. “It’s important to give mom Lola and her newborn ample time to nurse and bond backstage, so the calf’s sex and weight might not be known for some time.”
Penning called the birth “incredible news,” noting that white rhinos are endangered.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, only two northern white rhinos are left in the wild, both of which are female. Officials said there are about 18,000 northern white rhinos living mostly in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
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