Endangered Black Rhinoceros Born In Czech Zoo Named 'Kyiv' To Honour Ukraine Capital

A Czech zoo recently welcomed a critically endangered rhino born named Kyiv. The zoo introduced the baby rhino on Monday in a Facebook post and shared that the young animal's name is a gesture made in support of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion into the country.

"The cub was born on the night of Thursday to Friday, basically exactly one week after the Russian invasion of Ukraine," zoo Director Premysl Rabas said, according to a statement on the zoo's official website translated to English.

The rhino was born early on March 4 in the Dvur Kralove zoo, a rare occurrence for the facility even if it has the most rhinos belonging to the subspecies.

¡°The name is another expression of our support for the Ukrainian heroes,¡° zoo Director Premysl Rabas said.

India Today

Kyiv¡¯s mother Eva has been taking care of him in the best possible way, the zoo said, with the baby gaining 1 kilogram (2.20 pounds) a day. It currently weighs about 50 kilograms (110 pounds).

The Dv?r Kr¨¢lov¨¦ Zoo has seen 47 successful eastern black rhino births since its rhino breeding program started in 1971. Nine of the animals have been returned to Rwanda and Tanzania to live in the wild, while others have been moved to different zoos to help maintain the species' genetic diversity.

AP

According to the Associated Press reported, only three rhinos of this species have been born in other zoos worldwide in the last year. Around 800 eastern black rhinos are currently living in the wild.

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