The Living Desert celebrates World Rhino Day before the opening of a new “Rhino Savanna” habitat

Celebrate World Rhino Day! In honor of the designation, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Celebrates World Rhino Day by announcing an official date for the long-awaited opening of the new Rhino Savanna habitat. The inauguration will take place on Friday, November 12, 2021.

The new four-acre habitat will be home to Jaali and Nia, two African black rhinos, as well as 12 other African species, including the klipspringer, springbok and waterbuck, as well as cape vultures and hairless mole rats. According to The Living Desert, Jaali (pronounced Cheerful) is an almost two-year-old eastern black rhino who will arrive from the Potter Park Zoo. Nia (pronounced Does not have) is a 3-year-old rhino who will come from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

World Rhinoceros Day draws attention to the relentless practice of poaching and illegal trafficking of large mammals. There are five species of rhino: the African black rhino, the African white rhino, the Sumatran and Java rhinos of Indonesia, and the largest one-horned rhino in India. The day celebrates the five rhino species and raises awareness of the greatest threat they face, which is humans, according to The Living Desert. Rhinos are currently classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature).