Hamilton Zoo farewells Southern white rhinoceros

A member of Hamilton Zoo’s Southern white rhinoceros herd is currently settling into a new home in Australia, while the zoo awaits a new furry arrival from across the ditch. Hamilton Zoo farewelled 15-year-old female white rhino Caballe on Sunday [1 August] when she departed for Queensland’s Australia Zoo, where she will play a pivotal role in the facility’s new breeding herd.

A resident of Hamilton Zoo since 1999, Caballe originally came from Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Hamilton Zoo team leader of mammals Samantha Kudeweh, who is the coordinator for the Australasian region's white rhino breeding programme, said that during Caballe’s time at Hamilton Zoo she has been a key member of the facility’s white rhino herd. “She has made a great contribution to both Hamilton Zoo’s rhino herd and the captive breeding program to conserve Southern white rhino, giving birth to three calves during her time here.”

Mrs Kudeweh said the transfer process went extremely smoothly and Caballe, who is currently pregnant with her fourth calf, is settling well into her new home. Meanwhile next Tuesday [10 August] Hamilton Zoo will welcome a new male spider monkey called Burrito, who is transferring to the facility from Gorge Wildlife Park in South Australia.

Burrito, who was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 1997, will be a new breeding male in Hamilton Zoo’s spider monkey troop.

ENDS

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