Tampa's ZooTampa Marks Baby Boom With Rhino, Impala Calves And Rare Frog Hatchlings

TAMPA, FL — ZooTampa at Lowry Park has shared a new round of animal births and hatchings, including a second southern white rhino calf, two impala calves and critically endangered Panamanian golden frog hatchlings.

The zoo has seen more than 54 babies since January.

The newest rhino calf, Malaika, was born May 28 to 25-year-old mother Alake. The female calf weighed between 80 and 100 pounds at birth.

Her name means "angel" in Swahili, according to the zoo. Animal care staff said that she has a timid personality and stays close to her mother.

Malaika is the 11th southern white rhino born at the zoo, and her birth marks the first time the facility has had two calves at the same time. Her older half-sister, Kelele, was born in March.

The zoo said its white rhino herd is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which is intended to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population. If Malaika continues meeting developmental milestones, the zoo said she will join the other eight members of the rhino group by the end of June.

Two female impala calves on May 18 in the Africa area. Kendall was born early in the morning to 6-year-old mother Karen and 4-year-old father Chad, according to the zoo.

Later that day, Laura Lanya was born around noon to 6-year-old mother Linda and father Chad. Both calves weighed about 10 pounds and are nursing successfully.

It’s the first time the zoo has had two impala calves born on the same day, the zoo said.

Guests can see the new rhino and impala calves from the Expedition Wild Africa Safari ride and public viewing areas in Africa.

In a separate conservation milestone, ZooTampa also recently hatched critically endangered Panamanian golden frogs, a species the zoo said has been extinct in the wild since 2009 because of habitat loss and chytrid fungus.

The hatchlings are also part of the AZA’s Species Survival Plan.

ZooTampa said it is home to more than 1,300 animals and 300 species, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild.

See Also:

• Injured Young Florida Panther Finds Permanent Home At ZooTampa
• ZooTampa Released Record 26 Rehabilitated Manatees In 2025
• Baby Boom Continues At ZooTampa With Several New Animals Born This Year