For the first time in Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance’s 130-year history, southern white rhinos are calling the Zoo home.
After months of planning, habitat improvements and collaboration between animal care teams here in Denver and across the country, two young southern white rhinos have arrived at DZCA. Viazi, a four-year-old male whose name means “potatoes” in Swahili, joins us from Busch Gardens in Florida, while Mkuu, a three-year-old male whose name means “prince,” joins us from ZooTampa.
Viazi and Mkuu are settling into their new surroundings and getting to know one another as they begin this new chapter at DZCA. While their arrival is a historic first for the Zoo, bringing these two rhinos to Denver is about more than adding a new species to our animal family. It is also part of a larger conservation effort coordinated through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP).
Two rhinos, one important role
When people think about wildlife conservation programs in zoos, they may think first about breeding. And while breeding is an important part of many SSPs, it is not the only way zoos can support a healthy population.
“Sometimes the best way to support a specific animal population is by housing males,” says Maura Davis, Curator of Large Mammals.
In Viazi and Mkuu’s case, the opportunity to house two males came together with changes to the historic habitat space known as our Pachyderm Building that has previously been home to iconic species like elephants and black rhinos.
The indoor and outdoor habitat spaces were improved to create a suitable home for the pair, allowing DZCA to support the SSP while the Zoo and its partners continue to consider how the southern white rhino population should be managed in the years ahead.
“As we continue to discuss changes to the habitat space and the rhino population within the SSP, we will consider year-to-year changes and how to best support the bigger picture goals of the AZA’s work with rhinos,” Maura says.
That bigger picture is at the core of how AZA manages SSPs, collaborating across organizations to make thoughtful decisions about individual animals and the long-term health and sustainability of their species.
A new species in an old history of conservation
Southern white rhinos are native to parts of southern and eastern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Their conservation story is one of both tremendous challenges and remarkable recovery. In the 19th century, fewer than 100 southern white rhinos were believed to remain in South Africa, and the species was once considered to be on the brink of extinction. Decades of protection and conservation management have helped southern white rhino populations recover significantly.
Today, southern white rhinos are classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Of the world’s five rhino species, they are currently the only species not classified as Endangered.
Their name can be a little confusing. “White” rhinos aren’t actually white—their name comes from the Afrikaans word weit, meaning “wide,” referring to their distinctive wide, square-shaped mouths.
Your support brings these boys to the yard
Bringing Viazi and Mkuu to DZCA required months of coordination, from modifying their new habitat to working closely with their former care teams and other partners to make sure their transition to Denver was safe and successful. Thank you to the Schoelzel Family Foundation, Kintzele Family and anonymous donors for supporting their habitat transformation and their safe transport from Florida.
Viazi and Mkuu have arrived safe and sound, but their journey at DZCA is just beginning. Your support helps provide the care, enrichment and resources these rhinos need to thrive. Consider making a donation today to help us continue caring for them.
Stay tuned for more information about their official public debut on Friday, October 16, but in the meantime, Viazi and Mkuu may be visible in the rhino yard as they settle into their new home and get acquainted with one another. Their arrival marks an exciting new chapter in DZCA’s 130-year history and another opportunity to work alongside zoos and conservation partners around the country to support wildlife for generations to come.
