| In February 1993, Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales, Australia, began a Captive Breeding Program for the Southern Black Rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis minor. Nine animals, two males and seven females, were imported from Zimbabwe. The nine animals were sent to the Australian Quarantine Station on the Cocos Islands to check for diseases. Unfortunately the adult male died, leaving only a young male and the seven females. Deaths continued upon the arrival of the animals at Western Plains with the young male dying from the trauma of being moved and a female two months later.
Western Plains Zoo has an exhibit covering 7.2 hectares costing approx. $1.6 million. There are 35 enclosures and two public viewing areas. The males and females have adjoining yards where they can see, smell, hear and to a limited extent, touch, each other.
Four males were imported from the U.S. in 1994. They came from the San Diego Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, Milwaukee Zoo and the Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre. Since their arrival there have been nine births, mostly males. In conjunction with the Monash University in Melbourne, the zoo has been researching why there has been such a low success rate in breeding. One of the problems that has been found is that captive rhinos store too much iron in their bodies. Since this has been discovered and the amounts of iron corrected, the black rhinos of Western Plains have been breeding more successfully.
In December 2003, Western Plains Zoo decided to send one of its male rhinos, Kwanzaa, to Taronga Zoo for a holiday. Kwanzaa is a shy and retiring male, (at least as far as rhinos go) and the other males, who were more aggressive, caused him a lot of stress. Though he mates successfully with females, he has not yet sired any young and staff are hoping that his relaxing break by the harbour will help.
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| WESTERN PLAINS RHINOS |
| Males |
- Siabuwa, presumably the father of many of the calves.
- Ibala. The first calf sired by him was InDuna, born in 2003.
- Chikundo, born March 2000.
- InDuna born 5 April 2003.
- A male calf born October 2004.
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| Females |
- Kalungwazi, mother to four calves, three of which are still alive.
- Pepe Kalle, has twice given birth
- Dongajuma. Has given birth twice, though the first calf died soon after birth
- Musina Pongo
- Chitundumeseremus
- Utahwedande
- Bakhiti, born on the 22 March 2002 to . So far she is the only female calf to be born.
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| Calves born. |
- Kusomona, a male born to female, Kalungwazi, on 25 May 1996. He has since been moved to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre in the U.S.
- a male born on the 29 April 1999 to Kalungwazi. This calf has since died.
- Chikundo born March 2000 to another female. (still alive?)
- a male that died as a calf.
- Bakhiti, the first and so far only female to be born. Born on the 22 March 2002 to female, Kalungwazi. She is doing well.
- A male calf born to Dongajuma. He died six days after being born when his mother accidently rolled on him during the night.
- A male that was stillborn. His mother died not long after.
- InDuna, born on the 5 April 2003, to mother, Pepe Kalle and father, Ibala.
- Sentwali. A male calf born to female, Dongajuma on October 2nd 2004. He is described as a bit of a mummies boy, though is picking up on her aggressive behaviour.
- A tenth calf was born on 14 February 2005. This male was born to mother Kalungwizi and father, Kwanzaa
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