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Petting Zoo: Baby Rhino Debuts at Zoo in Fresno!

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER ITS BIRTH, A RHINOCEROS CALF MADE ITS DEBUT AT A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ZOO ON WEDNESDAY.

THE FRESNO CHAFFEE ZOO ALLOWED THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS CALF, WHICH WAS BORN ON JANUARY 26. IT'S THE FIRST RHINO CALF IN THE ZOO'S HISTORY.

“HE HAS THE CUTEST LITTLE FACE I’VE EVER SEEN. NO HORN, JUST A LITTLE BUMP. AND HE TROTS REAL FAST,” SAID FRESNO RESIDENT GAYLE NEAL JOHNSON.

IT'S THE THIRD CALF FOR HIS MOTHER KAYLA, WHO ARRIVED AT THE ZOO IN 2015 FOR THE OPENING OF THE AFRICAN ADVENTURE EXHIBIT.

THE ZOO ONLY ANNOUNCED HER PREGNANCY TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE CALF'S BIRTH, BUT ZOOKEEPERS AND VETERINARIANS WERE MONITORING THE PREGNANCY.

HE IS JUST 6 WEEKS OLD AND NAMELESS FOR NOW, BUT THAT WON’T LAST FOR LONG. ZOO VISITORS ARE VOTING FOR A NAME BY PUTTING DONATIONS INTO ONE OF SIX CHOICES. THE GIFTS WILL GO TOWARD RHINO CONSERVATION. 

THE RHINO IS ONE OF ABOUT 20,000 SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOS WORLDWIDE.