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Rhinos Return to the Houston Zoo
Three White Rhinos Arrive Via Cargo Flight from South Africa
Rhinos a Feature of The African Forest
After a 54 hour trip from Johannesburg, South Africa aboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines cargo flight, three white rhinos arrived at the Houston Zoo on Thursday and are settling into their new home in The African Forest, a 6.5 acre addition to the Zoo which will open to the public on December 10. The Zoo’s new male rhino, whose name is Sibindi (suh-BIN-dee) and one female, named Annie-Kamariah, are four years old. The other female, named Lynne, is five years old.
“The rhinos went First Class all the way,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. “They were accompanied on the flight by a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists from Kruger National Park and the Houston Zoo who had direct access to them at all times to care for them during the trip,” added Barongi.
The rhinos made the flight from Johannesburg to Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport in new specially designed 2,000 pound steel reinforced crates that allowed them to stand or lie down comfortably during their journey. After arrival at Bush Intercontinental Airport and clearance through customs, each crate was transferred to one of three flat bed trucks for the trip from the airport to their new home at the Houston Zoo.
“They seem to be settling in well and I’m really not surprised. The logistics involved in their transport involved months of preparation,” said Barongi. Prior to their flight, the rhinos received medical check ups, were acclimated to their shipping containers and caretakers and converted to the diet they will consume at the Houston Zoo.
