Ohio's 100-Pound Rhino Calf Marks 22 Years of Wins

A 100-pound rhino calf took his first wobbly steps at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio this month, marking another victory for a species that nearly vanished from Earth.

Agnes, a southern white rhino, gave birth to the male calf on March 5. The experienced mother has been attentive and nurturing, according to Animal Management Specialist Cody Cseplo, who called the birth a testament to years of patience and dedication.

The calf's father, Bernard, also lives at The Wilds. Their pairing was carefully recommended through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which ensures genetic diversity in captive populations.

This wasn't a lucky accident. The Wilds has been perfecting rhino conservation breeding since 2004, creating one of the largest multigenerational rhino herds in North America. Fourth and fifth-generation rhinos now roam the facility's pastures, proof that long-term conservation strategies actually work.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Southern white rhinos teetered on the edge of extinction in the early 1900s with fewer than 100 individuals remaining. Strategic protection and coordinated breeding programs helped the population rebound to tens of thousands worldwide.

"Decades of teamwork and expertise are behind this moment," said Dan Beetem, director of animal management. "Each birth has helped build a strong, multigenerational herd that contributes to conservation efforts far beyond our pastures."

The Ripple Effect

Every calf born at The Wilds strengthens the genetic safety net for an entire species. The facility doesn't just care for southern white rhinos—it also houses greater one-horned rhinos, expanding its conservation footprint across multiple threatened species.

Dr. Joe Greathouse, vice president of The Wilds, emphasized that each birth represents progress toward sustaining healthy, genetically diverse populations. The science-based approach provides a model for conservation centers worldwide facing similar challenges.

The work remains urgent. Despite population gains, southern white rhinos still face habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. Coordinated conservation strategies must continue to protect these gains.

Visitors can witness this conservation success firsthand through tours including the Rhino Barn Tour and Winter Wildside Tour through April. A second southern white rhino birth is expected at The Wilds later this year, giving guests another chance to celebrate conservation in action.

Twenty-two years of careful planning, expert care, and unwavering commitment just took its first steps in an Ohio pasture.