Rampant poaching has reduced the world population of eastern black rhinoceros down to around 800. Hence, whenever a new calf is born, it’s such an important milestone.
Recently this Czech zoo celebrated that milestone. The little one was born in the Dvur Kralove zoo on March 4 and promptly named Kyiv. The name was given in honor of the people of Ukraine who are currently defending their country from invasion. It’s suited given the rhino too is fighting its species’ extinction by being born.
From the time Dvur Kralove zoo first received a black rhino in 1971, 47 have been born in their park. Many of them are now spread in zoos all around the world, but nine have been released back to their African habitats.
Image: Petr David Josek/AP