2 days ago
A new rhino is calling Blank Park Zoo home
DES MOINES, Iowa — There's a new rhino at Des Moines' Blank Park Zoo.
The zoo announced Wednesday that four-year-old male 'AJ' had joined the fold. The eastern black rhino comes from the Cincinnati Zoo. His more formal name. Ajani Joe, means 'he who wins the struggle' in Swahili.
AJ was brought to the zoo as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, and officials said he will play a vital role in maintaining a genetically diverse breeding population.
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'The arrival of Ajani Joe is the next major step at Blank Park Zoo in our efforts to help increase the population of this critically endangered species,' Blank Park Zoo President and CEO Anne Shimerdla said. 'Eastern black rhinos were nearly wiped out by poaching, with their population dropping by over 90% between 1970 and the early 1990s. Thanks to conservation efforts, population numbers have been on the rise.'
Rhinos first came to Blank Park Zoo in 2012. Since then, two rhino calves have been born at the zoo.
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