Rare rhino born at Lowry Park Zoo

TAMPA - An endangered Indian rhinoceros was born Tuesday evening at Lowry Park Zoo.

Zookeepers say this birth is a first for the zoo, and a milestone for the species in captivity with only a few documented births each year.

The parents are the only breeding Indian rhinos at the zoo. The first-time mother is 8-year-old Jamie and the father is 11-year-old Arjun. After a 16-month gestation, Jamie gave birth to a female calf. Zookeepers say the mother and calf are doing well, and they are keeping a close eye on them.

"The Indian rhino birth at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is a significant event not just for Florida, but for the species throughout the world," said Randy Rieches, Species Survival Program coordinator for rhinos. "For an endangered species such as this, each new birth is an important step taken toward saving this species."

Indian rhinos are listed as an endangered species, with an estimated wild population of about 2,000, according to Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Fifty-four Indian rhinos (known as the great one-horned rhinoceros) live among 17 accredited institutions in North America, with nine animals born in the last three years, according to the AZA's Indian Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan (SSP) most recent report in June.