Lincoln Park Zoo Introduces Baby Rhino

King the rhino goes on display for the first time since his birth

Lincoln Park Zoo's new "king" made his debut today.

The newborn Eastern black rhinoceros calf has stayed behind the scenes since his birth on Aug. 26, but on Tuesday, he wandered outside with his mother.

Zoo guests were able to get a first glance at the calf and also learn his name: King.

According to Lincoln Park Zoo President and CEO Kevin Bell, the name carries a lot of meaning.

“King the calf is named for King Harris, a long-standing and generous supporter of Lincoln Park Zoo with his wife, Caryn, who sits on our Board of Trustees,” Bell said. “The Harris family’s support of the 2008 renovation and expansion of our rhino habitat made it possible for us to bring in an additional rhino and breed the species.”

Eastern black rhinos are currently endangered, but the zoo is dedicated to rhino conservation. It houses three adult rhinos and works with the Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan. It also conducts field work in South Africa.

“Breeding programs at zoos are of crucial importance to the survival of these remarkable animals, particularly as the numbers in the wild continue to dwindle,” said Lincoln Park Zoo Curator of Mammals Mark Kamhout. “King will serve as an excellent ambassador for his species.”

Visitors can see King every day in the Harris Family Foundation Black Rhinoceros Exhibit until the rhinos retreat indoors for the winter.

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