24 June 2011
Australia Zoo Rhino Calf’s First Run with Mum
Baby Rhino Savannah enjoys roaming around in her new paddock and Terri Irwin
announces new additions to Africa!
Australia Zoo’s first Southern White Rhino calf, Savannah, has ventured into her new open area
exhibit today, running with her mum, Caballe.
At just two months old, cheeky Savannah frolicked around her mum, as she moved out of her
secure abode, keeping Australia Zoo keepers fit as she ran around at top speed in her new
paddock.
Australia Zoo Director Wes Mannion said that Savannah’s progress was making the Australia
Zoo crew very proud.
“Until recently, Savannah and Caballe were kept together in a sheltered enclosure, away from
other rhinos and with limited Australia Zoo keeper access, to give her a head start and gain
more confidence before meeting our other rhinos.
“Savannah is doing really well, and venturing into a new area allows her to smell new smells,
meet other animals and have greater interaction with new environments,” Wes said.
Terri also welcomed the arrival of three new Zebra boys, which arrived on Wednesday from
Werribee Open Range Zoo.
-MORE-
-2“Australia Zoo gives visitors an exclusive opportunity to experience theses beautiful African
animals as we are the only home to Zebra and Giraffe in Queensland,” Terri said.
Steve’s dream was to build an African Safari Park, where animals roam free in open plains and
state of the art enclosures; where the public can watch the only multi species African exhibit in
Queensland.
Africa will cover 24 acres, taking Australia Zoo to just under 100 acres. Adding to Australia
Zoo’s already established 70 acres – the African exhibit will be the largest of the Australia Zoo
exhibits.
Stage One of Australia Zoo’s African development plans will be an African Safari; a first for
Queensland. The savannah will be an open range field where visitors can watch exotic animals
such as Zebra, Giraffe and Rhino interacting from the comfort of our Safari Shuttle.
With a growing rhino herd – the only active breeding herd in Queensland – giraffe, and the
arrival of three zebra, Australia Zoo is well on the way to realising Steve Irwin’s dream of a
savannah filled with African animals, right here in Beerwah.
-End-
For media enquiries regarding Australia Zoo please contact:
Emma McCudden
PR & Communications Manager
Australia Zoo
Ph: (07) 5436 2023
Mob: 0447 041 721
Email: [email protected]