El Paso Zoo welcomes Taj, its very first rhinoceros
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Zoo welcomed Taj, a 7-year-old greater one-horned rhinoceros, today.
Taj used to live at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. He had to ride in a custom climate-controlled crate for 1,700 miles all the way to El Paso.
The Species Survival Plan recommended Taj move to the Sun City. The organization is trying to make sure threatened and endangered animals strengthen their populations.
"All Rhinos are in great jeopardy in the wild and we are very fortunate to get Taj as he is highly ranked in the breeding priority list," Zoo Director Joe Montisano explained. "Eventually, we will be bringing in a few females to join Taj and hopefully then adding new Rhinos to the population."
Rhinos are native to the Indian subcontinent, but during the 20th century their populations dwindled to fewer than 200, according to zoo officials. Their population decline is contributed to sport hunting, poaching, habitat loss, and human conflict.
The zoo says that Taj, who takes his name from the Hindi word for "jewel" or "crown," is still getting used to his new home and zookeepers. That means zoo visitors will not get to see him for awhile. He will receive a medical exam, then be introduced to his new exhibit, located right next to Savannah the Asian elephant.
