LIFE

Change in diet affects white rhino birth

This southern white rhino calf was born April 30 at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. (photo by Elyse Leano)

Change in diet affects white rhino birth

A female southern white rhino calf, born April 30 to first-time mother Kiazi and father Maoto, curiously checked out her surroundings at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, under the watchful eye of her attentive mother.

Kiazi’s pregnancy was very exciting for researchers at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. She arrived at the Safari Park in 2008 and, despite breeding regularly since her arrival, she had never before conceived. At 16 years old, she is past the average age that most female southern white rhinos have their first calf.

“The birth of Kiazi’s calf gives us a great deal of hope that by feeding low phytoestrogens at our institution and others, we can once again have a healthy, self-sustaining captive southern white rhinoceros population,” said Christopher Tubbs, Ph.D., a senior scientist in Reproductive Sciences at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. “With the high level of poaching currently happening in Africa, having a healthy ex situ population of rhinos is as important as ever. This calf is an example of how we are using cutting-edge laboratory science to lead the fight against extinction.”

Tubbs and his colleagues have been working for nine years to determine why southern white rhino females born in zoos tend not to bear offspring as often as their wild relatives. This problem is not found in other species of rhinos living in zoos. Through extensive research, it was discovered that the animals may be sensitive to compounds called phytoestrogens found in soy and alfalfa, which are a component of the animals’ diets in zoos. During their 16-month gestation, female calves could be exposed to the compounds through their mother’s diet, resulting in infertility issues later in their life.

On the basis of these findings, the nutritional services team at San Diego Zoo Global changed the diet for southern white rhinos in 2014. First, they reduced the amount of pellets rich with soy and alfalfa that are fed to the rhinos. Next, they developed a grass-based pellet for the rhinos that is low in phytoestrogen and supplies nutrients to support reproduction. Approximately two years after the diet changes, two females became pregnant. Since then, there have been three pregnancies in females that had not successfully reproduced before, which resulted in the birth of two healthy calves.

Although Tubbs and his team have only focused on the potential effects of dietary phytoestrogens in white rhinos, it is likely that a number of species living in zoo settings receive diets containing levels of phytoestrogens capable of affecting reproduction. Therefore, future research efforts will focus on identifying species that are possibly affected, evaluating their sensitivity to phytoestrogens and, if warranted, developing new diets and feeding practices aimed at enhancing fertility.

White Rhino Calf
The southern white rhino calf explores her surroundings at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park under the watchful eye of her attentive mother, Kiazi. (photo by Elyse Leano)

The research project has reached a real point of urgency due to the increase in poaching in recent years that has dramatically affected rhino populations in the wild. When the project began in 2007, 13 rhinos were poached (that year). In 2016, 1,054 southern white rhinos were poached in South Africa — with an average of three rhinos killed every day. There are five species of rhinos, with three of those species — black, Javan and Sumatran — listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The greater one-horned rhino is listed as Vulnerable and the southern white rhino is listed as Near Threatened.

Kiazi’s calf is the 96th southern white rhino calf born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 1972. Estimated to weigh around 125 pounds at birth, the calf will nurse from her mother for up to 14 months — and she is expected to gain about 100 pounds a month in her first year. When full grown, at around 3 years of age, she could weigh 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. The rhino calf and her mom can best be seen roaming their habitat from the Park’s Africa Tram Safari or a Caravan Safari.

Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is inspiring children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in children’s hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global.

For more information visit San Diego Zoo Safari park.

251 thoughts on “Change in diet affects white rhino birth”

  1. 10 Titreşim Fonksiyonlu Usb Şarj Edilebilen Giyilebilir Orgazm Vibratörü.
    %100 Silikondan Üretilmiş,10 Farklı Titreşim Moduna Sahip, Anal Vibratör ve Prostat Uyarımı İçin Kullanabilir
    Titreşimli n Kumandası İle 10 Metreye Kadar Kontrol Edilebilir.

    Anal,Vajinal ve Prostata Özel Kumandalı Titreşimli Vibratör.

  5. Admiring the commitment you put into your website and in depth information you
    provide. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while
    that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Wonderful read!

    I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  29. winchile casino [url=https://winchile.pro/#]win chile[/url] La historia del juego en Chile es rica.

  36. mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa [url=https://xxlmexicanpharm.shop/#]п»їbest mexican online pharmacies[/url] mexican drugstore online

  41. Mega India Pharm [url=https://megaindiapharm.com/#]MegaIndiaPharm[/url] cheapest online pharmacy india

  48. xxl mexican pharm [url=http://xxlmexicanpharm.com/#]xxl mexican pharm[/url] п»їbest mexican online pharmacies

  63. easy canadian pharm [url=https://easycanadianpharm.com/#]easy canadian pharm[/url] pet meds without vet prescription canada

  67. Online pharmacy USA [url=http://familypharmacy.company/#]Best online pharmacy[/url] online pharmacy delivery usa

  78. garuda888.top [url=https://garuda888.top/#]garuda888 slot[/url] Kasino di Indonesia menyediakan hiburan yang beragam

  95. doxycycline pills cost [url=https://doxhealthpharm.com/#]order doxycycline uk[/url] doxycycline online canada

  99. zithromax buy online no prescription [url=http://zithropharm.com/#]zithromax 500mg over the counter[/url] zithromax online

  101. order doxycycline capsules online [url=https://doxhealthpharm.com/#]DoxHealthPharm[/url] drug doxycycline 100mg

  107. get cheap clomid without insurance [url=https://clmhealthpharm.com/#]ClmHealthPharm[/url] buying generic clomid no prescription

  110. п»їViagra sans ordonnance 24h [url=https://viagrameilleurprix.com/#]Acheter Sildenafil 100mg sans ordonnance[/url] Sildenafil teva 100 mg sans ordonnance

  127. pharmacie en ligne livraison europe [url=https://tadalafilmeilleurprix.shop/#]pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance[/url] pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale

  132. Pharmacie sans ordonnance [url=http://pharmaciemeilleurprix.com/#]pharmacie en ligne[/url] pharmacie en ligne livraison europe

  142. pharmacie en ligne pas cher [url=http://tadalafilmeilleurprix.com/#]cialis sans ordonnance[/url] acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance

  145. pharmacie en ligne [url=https://kamagrameilleurprix.shop/#]acheter kamagra site fiable[/url] trouver un mГ©dicament en pharmacie

  185. Best Mexican pharmacy online [url=http://certpharm.com/#]Mexican Cert Pharm[/url] Legit online Mexican pharmacy

  189. mexican pharmacy online [url=https://certpharm.com/#]mexican pharmacy[/url] Legit online Mexican pharmacy

  201. Express Canada Pharm [url=http://expresscanadapharm.com/#]canadian pharmacy king reviews[/url] Express Canada Pharm

  206. Their digital prescription service is innovative and efficient.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]lisinopril other options[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]can i get clomid for sale[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]where to get cheap cytotec tablets[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]what is gabapentin 100mg[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]can you buy cheap cipro for sale[/url]
    Their medication therapy management is top-notch.

  212. The pharmacists always take the time to answer my questions.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]lisinopril 5mg prices[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]how can i get generic clomid for sale[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]buying cheap cytotec online[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin muscle building[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]generic cipro prices[/url]
    Some trends of drugs.

  219. Their commitment to global patient welfare is commendable.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]buying lisinopril without prescription[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]how to get clomid without insurance[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]can i buy generic cytotec online[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin 300mg prospect[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]cost of cipro pill[/url]
    A harmonious blend of local care and global expertise.

  226. I’ve sourced rare medications thanks to their global network.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]how to get cheap lisinopril pills[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]buying generic clomid pills[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]where to buy generic cytotec without dr prescription[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin extended release depomed[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]buying generic cipro online[/url]
    The pharmacists are always updated with the latest in medicine.

  229. They are always proactive about refills and reminders.
    [url=https://lisinoprilpharm24.top/#]lisinopril pill[/url]|[url=https://clomidpharm24.top/#]clomid cost[/url]|[url=https://cytotecpharm24.top/#]can i order cytotec prices[/url]|[url=https://gabapentinpharm24.top/#]gabapentin leukocytosis[/url]|[url=https://cipropharm24.top/#]can i buy cipro pill[/url]
    The team embodies patience and expertise.

  231. best india pharmacy [url=https://fastfromindia.com/#]buy medicines online in india[/url] Fast From India
    online shopping pharmacy india

  233. Fast From India [url=https://fastfromindia.shop/#]Fast From India[/url] online pharmacy india
    indian pharmacy paypal

  236. mail order pharmacy india [url=https://fastfromindia.shop/#]india online pharmacy[/url] Fast From India
    top 10 online pharmacy in india

  240. Pharma Internationale [url=https://pharmainternationale.com/#]Pharma Internationale[/url] pharmacie en ligne france fiable

  248. Farmacia Medic [url=https://farmaciamedic.com/#]п»їfarmacia online espaГ±a[/url] Farmacia Medic

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *