It’s a Girl!

Tensing’s pregnancy was confirmed in December 2018 after years-long effort that involved numerous experts from Denver Zoo and partner AZA-accredited zoos. Our Reproductive Specialist Dr. Anneke Moresco—with assistance from Dr. Monica Stoops from the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at Cincinnati Zoo (now lead reproduction scientist at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium)—conducted 11 unsuccessful artificial insemination procedures with Tensing from 2014 to 2018. Drs. Moresco and Stoops attempted a 12^th artificial insemination procedure with sperm from Jontu, a 10-year-old male from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in late 2018, and a voluntary ultrasound 10 days later suggested she was pregnant.

“Tensing’s journey from pregnancy to motherhood exemplifies the care our team provides to ensure our animals are able to voluntarily participate in their own medical care,” said Assistant Pachyderm Curator Lindsey Kirkman. “It took extraordinary patience and dedication over countless hours to make Tensing feel at ease with the artificial insemination and ultrasound procedures that ultimately resulted in a healthy mom and calf.”

Learn what it took to get Tensing pregnant and why this birth is important to the species

Once widespread, the population of greater one-horned rhinos—also known as Indian rhinos—plunged in the recent past as they were hunted for sport and had conflict with humans. Strict protection efforts have helped greater one-horned rhinos recover to an estimated 3,500 individuals worldwide, far more than the 200 that remained when the species was on the brink of extinction. The species is still listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to numerous threats in their native range of northeastern India and southern Nepal, including human-wildlife conflict and poaching for their horns.

Denver Zoo works collaboratively with other AZA-accredited organizations to support the Greater One-Horned Rhino Species Survival Plan, a managed breeding program within zoos that ensures a healthy, genetically diverse population, and helps to safeguard the species’ survival. There are currently only 83 greater one-horned rhinos—including our newest addition—residing in North American facilities.

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