The Rhino exhibit is a diverse, multi-species habitat featuring white rhinos, Mongolian wild horses, and a bachelor herd of Hartmann’s mountain zebras. Guests can also find Hartmann’s mountain zebras at the African Savanna exhibit.
This unique exhibit provides a stimulating environment for our herds by providing them with a large yard habitats with a range of activities and space. The diverse environment promotes natural behaviors, giving the animals the physical and mental stimulation they need to stay healthy and happy.
Range:
Hartmann’s mountain zebras range from South West Africa into extreme southwest Angola.
Habitat:
Slopes and plateaus in mountainous areas.
Characteristics:
Unlike other zebras, the mountain zebra has a dewlap, or fold of skin, hanging from the throat. The mane is short and erect, with no forelock. The mountain zebra is a good climber and has very hard and pointed hooves compared to other zebras and horses.
Behavior:
Mountain zebra are mainly active in the early morning and late afternoon to sunset. Grazing and resting occupy most of the daylight hours. During cold weather, they shelter in wooded areas or caves, and go to east-facing slopes to warm up in the morning sunshine.
Reproduction:
Mountain zebra form small herds of one adult stallion and 1 to 5 mares with young. Breeding herds remain stable over many years and mares usually remain in a herd for life. Gestation lasts one year, with one foal born at a time. Foals weigh about 55 pounds at birth, and are up and walking within hours. Foals are weaned at 10 months.
Interesting Facts:
Hartmann’s mountain zebras are commonly found at play. Types of play include chasing, racing, play-fighting, and challenge games. Challenge games usually consist of nose-to-nose contact followed by mutual grooming.
At high temperatures, the striped pattern of the zebra may serve as camouflage, an adaptation to the resultant “waviness” of the air. At a distance of a few hundred yards, the stripes make a zebra appear indistinct.
No two zebras are alike – each has a distinct stripe pattern, just like with human fingerprints.
Range:
South and East Africa
Habitat:
Drier savannahs and plains
Characteristics:
The white rhino is the 3rd largest land animal, after the two species of elephants. The white rhino has two horns on the end of its long head. White rhinos are also referred to as the square-lipped rhino, in reference to its wide, straight, non-hooked upper lip.
Behavior:
The white rhino is the only grazing rhino, and is mild in temperament. This species of rhino is the most social with females often living in groups of 5-7 individuals. Rhinos are very good mothers and will stay with a calf teaching and protecting it for 2-4 years. Adult males are solitary.
Reproduction:
Females become sexually mature at 5 years of age and bear their first calf at 6-8 years. A single birth is the rule, with the baby weighing only about 4 percent of the mother’s weight. Females seek seclusion from other rhinos at the time of birth.
Interesting Facts:
There are five living species of rhinos: white, black, Indian, Javan, and Sumatran. The black and white species live in Africa, while the other three live in Asia. All five species of rhino are critically endangered of going extinct.
Range:
Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan
Habitat:
Mongolian steppes of the Gobi Desert
Characteristics:
Mongolian wild horses exhibit many of the same traits as a domestic horse, but are much smaller and stockier in stature. They also have a heavier coat of hair ideal for the colder climates of Central Asia.
Behavior:
Mongolian wild horse behavior is very similar to that of domestic horse behaviors. Their diet is composed entirely of vegetation. They are hearty and strong and require less food and water. This resilience and zoos helped them recover from near extinction.
Reproduction:
Mating occurs in the early spring and summer. Mongolian wild horses exist in family groups consisting of one male, several females, and their offspring. Once breeding is completed, the males often separate and join bachelor groups. Reproduction is very similar to the domestic horse and gestation is around 1 year.
Interesting Facts:
Mongolian wild horses are also known as the Tahki, Dzungarian, Przewalski’s horse. These endangered species are considered the last truly wild horse. They are much smaller than a domestic horse, but are hearty and strong and require less food and water. This resilience and zoos helped them recover from near extinction.
In the 1960s, Mongolian wild horses were extinct in the wild because of human expansion, habitat destruction, and climate change. Thankfully, Mongolian wild horses were living in zoos at the time. Because of zoo breeding programs, more than 2,000 wild horses have returned to Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. Mongolian wild horses went from extinct, to critically endangered, to endangered status because of your support of zoos.
The Mongolian Wild Horse yard is a new area featuring a remarkable species never before seen at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Also known as the Tahki, Dzungarian, Przewalski’s horse, these endangered species are considered the last truly wild horse. They are much smaller than a domestic horse, but are hearty and strong and require less food and water. This resilience and zoos helped them recover from near extinction.
In the 1960s, Mongolian wild horses were extinct in the wild because of human expansion, habitat destruction, and climate change. Thankfully, Mongolian wild horses were living in zoos at the time. Because of zoo breeding programs, more than 2,000 wild horses have returned to Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. Mongolian wild horses went from extinct, to critically endangered, to endangered status because of your support of zoos.
Guests can get a nose-to-nose view of the rhinos at the Kopje (co-pea). The Kopje is a part of our West Habitat and is made to resemble the small hills that rise from the African veld. It features a watering hole and a feeding area to attract the animals for a better view. At the Kopje, you’ll be able to observe the animals up close through safety windows that are two inches thick.
At the edge of the west yard, there is a smaller lodge that gives guests another vantage point to see the animals. There, you’ll find educational activities like our interactive scale. The scale encourages guests to pile on together to find out if they collectively weigh as much as a a newborn rhino or week’s worth of food.
Capture a memorable moment with your family by snagging a photo next to our elephant sculpture that’s 13 feet tall, reminding guests of the African elephant residents that used to reside here at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. This work of art looks like a soapstone carving of an elephant and can be found at the entrance of the Rhino Exhibit.
After a comprehensive evaluation, Utah’s Hogle Zoo has made the difficult decision to move Mom, Christie, 37, and daughter, Zuri, 14, to another Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo where opportunities for them to grow their family may increase.