22-Aug-08 1:00 PM CST

Black Rhino Baby Runs Wild at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park

San Diego, California - A couple of mule deer steer clear of a black rhino calf while he runs around his habitat on Thursday. This calf, which has yet to be named, was born at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park on July 17, 2008. He weighs about 150 pounds and can be expected to reach a weight of 2500 pounds.

Despite their size and weight, black rhinos are known to run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
The black rhino is native to eastern and southern Africa and is considered an endangered species. The Wild Animal Park has the most successful captive breeding program for rhinos anywhere in the world. This is the 12th black rhino born at the Park and the third calf born to parents Lembi and Jambia.

Another name used for the black rhino is "hook-lipped" because of its prehensile lip that is used like a finger to pull leaves, twigs and grasses into its mouth. Guests at the Wild Animal Park can see the rhino calf and his mother from the Journey into Africa or Photo Caravan tours at the Park.