Monumental Birth at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Sumatran Rhino Calf Born, September 13, 2001

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is proud to be the first zoo in 112 years to announce the birth of a healthy male Sumatran rhinoceros calf. At 11:23 a.m., September 13, 2001, Emi, the 11-year female Sumatran rhino on loan from the Los Angeles Zoo, delivered her calf in the privacy of her stall at the Cincinnati Zoo.

 

 

 

 



Emi became restless at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12. Today, at 9:20 a.m., Emi started active labor and at 11:23 a.m., she gave birth to her calf. Within the first five minutes, Emi began licking the calf and soon after, the calf attempted to stand.

 

 

 

 




 Emi is the first Sumatran rhino to breed and carry a calf to term in captivity in 112 years. This achievement required years of research. Dr. Terri Roth, director of the Zoo's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), used ultrasound technology and hormone analysis to understand the estrous cycle of the Sumatran rhino and to discover that these rhinos are induced ovulators (meaning eggs are released from the ovary only after mating with a male). This critical finding helped solve the mystery of breeding this species in captivity. In addition, another challenge had to be overcome. Emi seemed incapable of carrying a pregnancy to term, losing 5 pregnancies within the first three months of gestation.

Since no information existed about pregnant Sumatran rhino hormone levels, it was not known if Emi's hormone levels were adequate for sustaining a pregnancy. Therefore, it was decided to put Emi on a hormone supplement (progesterone) to see if this would solve the problem. Blood samples were analyzed for hormone levels and regular ultrasound exams were conducted to monitor and evaluate the progress of Emi's pregnancy. Emi had been taken off the supplemental hormone and was carrying the pregnancy by herself 10 days before delivery.

This is a species on the brink of extinction and the birth of this long-awaited calf is monumental to all conservationists who have been working so hard to save the Sumatran rhino. Emi and the Cincinnati Zoo's male rhino, Ipuh, are both on loan from the Indonesian government as part of a captive breeding program established in 1984 as a cooperative effort among Malaysians, Indonesians and Americans with four U.S. zoos becoming involved (Bronx Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Zoo). Emi and Ipuh are the only Sumatran rhino breeding pair in the United States. A fourth rhino, an older female, resides at the Bronx Zoo.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is considered the most endangered of all rhino species, and one of the most endangered mammalian species on earth. At the present time, there are thought to be about 300 Sumatran rhinos left in the wild and only 15 in captivity. There has not been a successful breeding in captivity resulting in the birth of a live calf since 1889 at the Calcutta Zoo in India.

The world-renowned Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is dedicated to saving endangered wildlife. The Cincinnati Zoo holds the United States record for the most lowland gorilla births (47) and the most black rhino births (18). It also ranks as a world-leader in breeding Indochinese tigers with 28 births. Now, the Cincinnati Zoo has become the first to successfully breed and produce a Sumatran rhino calf in captivity in the United States.



LIVE RHINOCAM!!!

Sumatran Rhino Conservation Project