Endangered Baby White Rhino Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom This Morning

Early this morning, Kendi gave birth to a beautiful baby boy white rhino at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

After a 16-month pregnancy, the male calf weighing approximate 150 pounds was born to mom Kendi, who was the first rhino born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom back in 1999. This birth marks the 11^th white rhino calf born at Walt Disney World Resort.

Calf and mother are doing well under the keepers’ watchful eyes. While rhinos are gregarious by nature; for now, the calf is resting, nursing and bonding with his mom.

The yet-to-be-named rhino is expected to join the “crash” – the term for a group of rhinos – on the theme park’s savanna in the coming weeks. Guests aboard the park’s Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction will then have a chance to see the calf in its habitat.

Kendi was paired with dad Dugan through one of the Species Survival Plans overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered species.

The animal care team is also caring for two other rhinos expected to give birth in 2021. This is especially significant, as white rhinos – the world’s second largest land animal – are an endangered species with a near-threatened status.

Some of their adventures in pairing will be featured in an upcoming episode of the “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” docuseries now streaming on Disney+.