The baby boom continues at ZooTampa at Lowry Park with the addition of another female southern white rhino calf and two female impala calves in recent weeks.
The southern white rhino calf, named Malaika, meaning “angel” in Swahili, was born on May 28 to 25-year-old mother Alake, and weighed between 80 and 100 pounds at birth. Animal care staff report that Malaika has a timid personality and prefers to stay close to her mom; meanwhile, her older half-sister Kelele, born in March, is more adventurous.
The calf marks the eleventh southern white rhino birth at ZooTampa and the first time the Zoo has had two calves simultaneously.
The white rhino herd is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan® (SSP), which aims to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population. If Malaika continues to meet developmental milestones, she will join the other eight members of the rhino crash by the end of the month.
The baby boom continued in Africa with the birth of two female impala calves on May 18. The first, named Kendall, was born early in the morning to 6-year-old mother Karen, and 4-year-old father Chad. Later that day, Laura Lanya was born around noon to 6-year-old mother Linda, and father Chad. Both calves, weighing approximately 10 pounds each, are nursing successfully. This is the first time the Zoo has had two impala calves born on the same day.
Guests can observe the new additions from the Expedition Wild Africa Safari ride and the Africa public viewing areas.
ZooTampa is home to more than 1300 animals and 300 species, many of which are threatened or endangered in the wild. Since January, more than 54 babies have been born at the Zoo
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