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Rhino Conservation Program
Captive breeding programs currently exist for four of the five
rhino species, and CREW scientists have been collaborating with
institutions and scientists worldwide in an effort to learn more
about these endangered animals. The results from hormone and ultrasound
monitoring studies have been fascinating. There are different
challenges associated with the conservation and propagation of
each rhino species. For example, some male Indian rhinos are aggressive
when introduced to females for breeding. Thus, the gene pool for
this population has been skewed, with the more aggressive males
underrepresented.
African black rhinoceros breed readily in captivity, but the
species is uniquely susceptible to many unusual diseases. Strangely,
many female African white rhinoceros are not exhibiting any reproductive
cyclicity. Perhaps most challenging, the Sumatran rhinoceros
had
not been bred in captivity for 112 years before the Cincinnati
Zoo produced the first calf in 2001 and repeated that success
with a second calf in 2004.
CREW scientists are working hard to resolve the problems facing
each of these species. In particular, CREW is working with the
International Rhino Foundation in collaboration with Malaysian
and Indonesian colleagues in an all out effort to propagate the
Sumatran rhino in captivity. (The Rhinoceros Conservation Program
has been supported through grants for the International Rhino
Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences and the
Morris Animal Foundation.)
For more information on rhinos, visit the International Rhino
Foundation website at www.rhinos-irf.org.
Photos: (clockwise, from top)
Sumatran rhinos Emi and Andalas, White Rhino, Black Rhinos, Indian
Rhino, and Sumatran Rhino male, Ipuh
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