The baby, Azizi, is growing rapidly from her birth weight of approximately 80 pounds to nearly 600 pounds at 5 months of age. Inge arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in 1997 from South Africa. Her transfer was the result of a cooperative effort between Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, the International Rhino Foundation and the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. After the carefully planned introduction, which included close monitoring of behaviors and hormone levels, Inge's pregnancy was confirmed in the spring of 1999.
Black rhinos are a highly endangered species due primarily to illegal hunting.
In 1970, the world population of black rhinos was 65,000. By 1980, this number dropped to 15,000, and today, it is thought that less than 3,000 black rhinos remain.