The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new arrival at the Zoo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 30, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

A new arrival at the Zoo

UNDER HIS MOTHER'S CARE: Rhino mother Maheshwari with her yet unnamed newborn calf at Delhi Zoo on Thursday. -- Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Shy captive breeders and a Schedule-I animal valued at Rs. 1 crore in the international market, with a mere gram of the horn costing Rs. 600, a pair of Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros housed in Delhi Zoo has brought some good news for Delhiites.

Having long kept it under wraps, the zoo finally made it official that they have a baby rhino, born on November 10, to Ayodhya and Maheshwari. Though not yet ready to go public, the calf has been kept under strict observation to help it pass through this rather difficult phase.

"Not their first baby, the pair has a male rhino, three-year-old Brahmaputra, who is doing well. He had raised our hope about the ability of this pair to breed and when we got news about the new baby we were careful with Maheshwari. The baby weighed 80-90 kg when born and is doing very well now. Special care is also been taken about the diet to ensure that the calf is fit for public display soon," said zoo vet Paneer Selvam.

The calf is yet to be named as the zoo is still awaiting "official" announcement of their latest member. -- Bindu Shajan Perappadan

-- Bindu Shajan Perappadan

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