The Potter Park Zoo will be home for a 9-year-old male eastern black rhino named Phineas. He'll be joining the Zoo's current black rhino resident, 9-year-old Doppsee. The two were selected as a potential breeding pair
Poaching has caused the black rhino to be critically endangered. Black rhino gestation is 15 to 16 months, and females usually have one calf every three to four years. The black rhino population just can't keep up with the rate of poaching. Last year 1,175 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone.
Currently Phineas is housed in Texas. He's being trained to coluntarily enter a crate, and when that training is complete he will be transported to his new home in Lansing. He'll make the trip in an enclosed, temperature controlled vehicle. The total cost for the transport is an estimated $10,000.
The Potter Park Zoo is trying to raise money to help with the cost of shipping, and supporting black rhino efforts. More informatino can be found here phineas2017
