Rockin Rhino was an event at our zoo where one of the rhino keepers, Ms. Diane, took the time to answer a lot of questions about rhinos. I talked with her a lot! One of the things I really want to do is attend Bowling for Rhinos, which is a yearly event that raises money to support rhino conservation through the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). Ms. Diane goes to it every year! She told me that Jomo paints, and each year one of his paintings is auctioned off at the event!
This is a rhino growth chart. My mom is really glad that I'm not a baby rhino...
The zoo even has a rhino mascot!!!
Ms. Diane taught that rhino horns are straighter than others because rhinos will brush their horns against rocks and tree bark to sharpen it. She also explained that rhinos are related to horses. They have similar stomachs and toes. I also read that they can both gallop and can go up to 35 miles an hour! Ms. Diane also explained to me that unlike in Africa, the birds often seen on rhinos are helping them. They're picking ticks off of them! But here in Pittsburgh the rhinos don't have ticks, so you may not see a rhino with a bird on top here!
Ms. Diane told me that the zoo has tried to keep things as natural as they can for this family of rhinos. The momma and the baby stay together, but when the baby is with its dad, Jomo it will spar with him! This is a big deal because as Ms. Diane would say, "They can't take a joke!" and they can be aggressive. These rhinos have been taught that they can be comfortable here.
Ms. Diane was really nice to talk to. She was really excited to know that I want to be a rhino conservationist. These rhinos are Eastern Black rhinos. Which means that they're semi solitary. They don't live in herds like other animals. Ms. Diane told me that there are White rhinos at The Wilds in Ohio. I hope I can see them one day.
I've learned that rhinos will ram into things they are scared of. Ms. Diane explained that they face their fear. They are not predators, but they are always on guard!
I really love our zoo and I am thankful for the people that help take care of the animals and teach kids like me about them.
I've been through these doors, and hopefully I'll pass through doors like this in the future when I'm a conservationist! I learned from a staff member named Tracy at the zoo that I will need to get a degree in either biology, zoology, animal science, anthropology, animal husbandry, or environmental science to become a rhino conservationist. Before I can do that I hope to take the KidScience and Zoo U classes at the zoo to learn more about animals and meet more of the keepers at our zoo. There's also a program at our zoo called Conservation with the Keepers. It is held twice a year. How cool is that? Ms. Tracy also advised me to volunteer or work at an animal shelter to get some experience with other kinds of animals. Unfortunately, most zoos will not accept internships until college. I'll have to take at least one year of classes before I can apply for that kind of job. But Ms. Tracy and both Ms. Diane and Mr. Mo all encouraged me to continue to work to support the zoo and conservation efforts around the world.
