Milwaukee County Zoo Welcomes Two New Rhinos

The Milwaukee County Zoo is celebrating an exciting milestone: the return of Eastern black rhinos after a three-year absence. Two rhinos have just arrived at the zoo's newly completed Ladish Co. Foundation Rhino Care Center, marking the end of an ambitious multi-year expansion project.

Meet Zuri and Kianga, the zoo's newest residents. Zuri, a 16-year-old female, recently made the journey from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, while 22-year-old male Kianga comes from much closer to home—he spent the last 18 years at the Racine Zoo. The pair arrived in late October and are already settling into their state-of-the-art accommodations.

The zoo hasn't housed black rhinos since late 2021, when its last rhino was transferred to the Oregon Zoo in Portland. For Milwaukee families who remember visiting the rhinos years ago, this homecoming represents a chance to reconnect with these magnificent creatures.

The Final Phase of Adventure Africa

The new Rhino Care Center represents the culmination of the zoo's Adventure Africa initiative, a transformation that has reshaped the entire African animal experience. Construction on the $22.6 million facility began in April of last year and wrapped up this past September.

This project completes the third and final phase of Adventure Africa, following the successful debuts of a new elephant habitat in May 2019 and an innovative hippo habitat in June 2020. Milwaukee County and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee partnered to fund the ambitious undertaking, which took several years and countless hours of planning and construction.

What Makes This Habitat Special

The Rhino Care Center offers much more than just a place for rhinos to live. The facility was designed with both animal welfare and guest experience in mind, creating opportunities for closer interactions while ensuring the animals have everything they need to thrive.

Key features of the new space include:

Outdoor Yard: A spacious area where the rhinos can enjoy fresh air and sunshine during suitable weather.

Hippo Indoor Haven: An innovative rotating habitat where rhinos and zebras will take turns occupying the space. This flexible design means visitors can now see the zoo's hippo during winter months when they previously had limited viewing opportunities.

Red River Hog Habitat: A dedicated space for these charismatic African animals rounds out the new facility.

The interactive design allows guests to get remarkably close to these incredible animals while maintaining safety for both visitors and wildlife. The year-round indoor viewing options also mean families can enjoy these exhibits even during Wisconsin's coldest months.

A Critical Conservation Mission

Zuri and Kianga aren't just here to delight visitors—they're part of a vital conservation effort. The pair has been brought together based on a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan, a cooperative program among zoos to maintain genetic diversity and healthy populations of endangered species.

Eastern black rhinos are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. These magnificent animals face ongoing threats from habitat loss and poaching in their native African range. Every successful breeding in accredited zoos helps ensure the species' survival and provides researchers with valuable insights into rhino biology and behavior.

Plan Your Visit

For Milwaukee families and wildlife enthusiasts, the return of rhinos to the Milwaukee County Zoo offers a compelling reason to visit this winter. The new facility's year-round indoor viewing capabilities mean you can comfortably observe these impressive animals even on the chilliest Wisconsin days.

Executive zoo director Amos Morris has expressed excitement about welcoming the community into this transformative new space and hopes visitors will take advantage of the educational opportunities the interactive design provides. After years of planning and construction, the zoo is proud to once again participate in rhino conservation and give the Milwaukee community a chance to connect with these remarkable animals.

Whether you're introducing young children to wildlife for the first time or you're a longtime zoo member eager to see the completed Adventure Africa project, the new Rhino Care Center promises an unforgettable experience. Welcome home, Zuri and Kianga!