On World Rhino Day (Sept. 22)—and every day—San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works to bring increased awareness of rhinos, and the importance of conservation efforts to protect these iconic animals.
This year, the Safari Park is celebrating the recent birth of a female southern white rhino calf born on Aug. 22 to first-time mom Kianga, and father J Gregory.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is inviting the public to help us name this curious and playful calf by visiting the Safari Park Facebook page Sept. 22-28 and commenting on their choice of three names: Kamaria (Cam-mar-e-uh) means beautiful like the moonlight in Swahili; Kifaru (Key-far-roo) means rhino in Swahili; Ilanga (E-long-a) means the sun in Xhosa. The name with the most ‘votes’ will be announced on Sept. 29.
Southern white rhino Kianga and her 6-day-old female calf at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. 
The Safari Park is home to greater one-horned rhinos, black rhinos, and southern white rhinos—including the southern white rhino calf born Aug. 22. Baby rhinos are always cute and fun to watch grow—but more importantly, they serve as ambassadors for their species. Seeing a rhino up close allows our guests to connect with them, with the hope they gain a greater appreciation for rhinos, and the vital need to conserve and protect rhinos and their native habitats.
There are five species of rhino: white (estimated 18,000) and black (estimated 5,600) in Africa; greater one-horned (estimated 3,600), Javan (estimated 74), and Sumatran (estimated 80) in Asia. Rhino numbers are dwindling, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss.
SDZWA’s current rhino conservation focus is dedicated to saving the northern white rhino through innovative reproductive technologies. Only two northern white rhinos remain on earth, residing at a wildlife conservancy in Kenya. Both are females and unable to reproduce naturally.