White Rhino Kendi Gives Birth at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park recently welcomed a baby white rhinoceros.  Both mother, Kendi, and her yet-to-be-named calf are doing great and being monitored by keepers.  Kendi, who was the first rhino born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1999 was paired with dad Dugan to bread through a Species Survival Plan.  Rhinoceros are the world’s second largest land animal and among the most endangered animals in the wild due to poaching.

Typically, a rhino calf can weigh up to 140 pounds at birth, and as expected, this baby was nursing, standing and walking around right by mom within the first hour of being born. The two will spend the next several weeks bonding backstage before joining the rest of the herd.

This is the first of several rhino births on the horizon. Two other rhinos at the park are also expecting; Jao is due fall 2021, and Lola will likely give birth in fall/winter 2021.

From Disney Parks Blog:

Some of their adventures in pairing will be featured in an upcoming episode of the “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” docuseries now streaming on Disney+.

Be sure to keep checking back with us here on the Disney Parks Blog as we continue to chronicle these magical rhino births!