Two Eastern black rhinos have arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo — just in time for the opening of their new habitat.
The Milwaukee County Zoo is preparing to open its new $22.6 million Ladish Co. Foundation Rhino Care Center. Construction for the new rhino exhibit wrapped up in September after beginning in April last year.
The exhibit’s completion marks the end of the third and final phase of the zoo’s Adventure Africa project. Phase one and two of the Adventure Africa project created a new elephant habitat that opened in May 2019, as well as a new hippo habitat that opened in June 2020.
“We are excited to have Eastern black rhinos return to the Milwaukee County Zoo,” executive zoo director Amos Morris said. “I’m pleased to see the final phase of Adventure Africa complete — it was a project that spanned many years, and many people played a role in seeing this capital project to completion.”
Milwaukee County and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee have contributed funding to the project.
The Rhino Care Center includes:
- An outdoor yard for the rhinos,
- The Hippo Indoor Haven, a habitat where rhinos and zebras will rotate in and out of the space,
- A new habitat for red river hogs.
“This space transforms how guests can visit animals year-round at MCZ, with the habitat design and interactive space allowing for a close-up experience, while also providing an indoor location to visit the Zoo’s hippo in the winter months,” the zoo’s announcement said.
The last black rhino at the zoo was transferred to the Oregon Zoo in Portland in late 2021.
The Milwaukee County Zoo’s new rhinos, a 16-year-old female named Zuri and a 22-year-old male named Kianga, arrived in late October, the zoo announced on Wednesday. Zuri was previously in the care of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, while Kianga was at the Racine Zoo for the past 18 years.
Zuri and Kianga have been paired at the Milwaukee County Zoo due to a breeding recommendation. The Eastern black rhino species is considered critically endangered, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
“I am looking forward to welcoming guests into this space and seeing them enjoy being closer than ever to rhinos and hippo and hope they can learn from this interactive design,” Morris said. “It’s a proud day for the Milwaukee community overall to have rhinos back for the first time since 2021, and we are honored to participate in the Species Survival Plan for these great animals.”
