Second Southern White Rhino Pregnant At San Diego Zoo Safari Park

ESCONDIDO, CA – For the second time this year, a southern white rhino has become pregnant through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, researchers announced Tuesday. News of the pregnancy comes just in time for World Rhino Day on Saturday.

The mother-to-be, 10-year-old Amani, is the zoo's second southern white rhino to become pregnant this year. The pregnancies of Amani and Victoria are part of a larger effort to save the northern white rhino, a relative of the southern white rhino, according to the zoo.

Only two northern white rhinos are alive in the world and both are female. Researchers hope to bring the species back from the brink of extinction by using stem cells and preserved cells from a dozen northern white rhinos to birth a rhino calf in the next 10 to 15 years, using southern white rhinos as surrogates. If the plan proves successful, researchers could attempt similar assisted reproduction techniques with the critically endangered Sumatran and Javan rhinos.

"Many months of intensive animal training, reproductive research and veterinary care resulted in these two ongoing pregnancies from artificial insemination," said Dr. Barbara Durrant, San Diego Zoo Global's endowed director of reproductive sciences. "We are following Victoria and Amani closely, continuing to gather critical information about early fetal development and the endocrinology of rhino pregnancy. The team is anxiously awaiting the arrival of our very special babies!"

The two pregnancies are the result of artificial insemination using sperm from a male southern white rhino. Victoria's pregnancy, which was announced in May, was the first successful artificial insemination in the zoo's 102-year history.

Rhino gestation lasts around 16 to 18 months, so researchers expect the two calves to be born in late 2019.

Also see:

• Pregnant Rhino In San Diego Could Help Save Subspecies

City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo via San Diego Zoo Safari Park