Monarto Safari Park marks World Rhino Day

Since 2011, World Rhino Day has been celebrated internationally on 22nd September and today marks its 10th anniversary. World Rhino Day is a day of awareness for all five rhino species and the work being done to save them.

Zoos SA highlight that since the inception of the first World Rhino Day, close to ten thousand Southern White Rhinos have been killed.

Monarto Safari Park is currently home to six Southern White Rhino: Umqali, Uhura, Satara, Ibutho, Savannah and young Eshe. It is also home to two male Black Rhinoceros, Induna and Sentwali.

Monarto Safari Park Director, Peter Clark notes “the international rhino horn trade is still rife due to its alleged and unfounded medicinal properties.

“Zoos SA uses funds from admission and experiences to help on ground conservation in Africa, including The African Ranger Association, Kruger National Park Honorary Rangers and Sera Conservancy in Kenya.”

Ungulate keeper Tammy Footner shares how staff have recently started taking conscious blood draws from the Black Rhino explaining “a member of the vet team is able to take a conscious blood sample from the Black Rhinos which is used for diagnostics work and allows us to keep track of the rhinos’ health.”

Keeper Haidee Kinter shared the latest news about the Southern White Rhinos advising “a few months ago, we started breeding introductions with Southern White Rhino between male Satara and two of our females. We hope to continue our efforts to build an insurance population.”

To ensure a future for the Southern White Rhino species, Zoos SA is working with The Australian Rhino Project, Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park to bring 30 rhinos from South Africa to Australia, with the first arrivals (COVID permitting) in South Australia in mid 2023.

While Zoos SA note that World Rhino Day itself is a serious matter, they are also asking its followers to take part in a guessing game – identifying the name and species of rhinos at Monarto Safari Park using only pictures of their rears and ears!  

As well as the competition to name the rhino and species; with a Meet the Rhinos experience as the prize, Zoos SA is also asking people to send in their own photos of the rhinos at Monarto Safari Park and in the wild for sharing on social stories throughout the day.

Monarto Safari Park operates a Meet the Rhinos and Black and White Rhino Interactive experiences. To find out more visit monartosafari.com.au/animal-experiences/

All visitors and members to Monarto Safari Park are asked to book in advance, particularly with the school holiday period approaching. Zoos SA also asks visitors to kindly follow all guidance concerning social distancing and mask wearing. Head to www.monartosafari.com.au/tickets

Images courtesy of Zoos SA