Being a conservation breeding facility means (if we’re lucky) lots and lots of babies. Birthdays are common at Fossil Rim, and each one serves as a reminder of the accomplishments of our various species and the dedicated staff who care for them. October gives us several milestones from the first birthday of one of our giraffe calves to a full-circle rhino celebration.
Janson Turns 1
Janson, the aptly named son of Jan, turns one year old this month. As a male giraffe, it’s likely that Janson won’t stay with us forever, but will instead travel to a different zoological facility where he can contribute to the giraffe population as a breeding bull. For now, though, he still has several years until he reaches maturity, and this first year has been spent close to mom and his multiple half-siblings.
As a herd species, giraffes learn a lot from each other, and Fossil Rim’s are no exception. Janson has only recently started approaching vehicles for snacks. Each giraffe here has their own personality: some eagerly visit cars for feed, while others prefer to keep their distance. Janson’s mother is known for enjoying her personal space, and observing guests from a distance. Time will tell if this calf will take after his mom, or his food-motivated dad, Manansi.
Homegrown Rhinos
While births are a common occurrence at Fossil Rim, it isn’t always guaranteed that an animal born here will remain with us. We collaborate with conservation organizations all over the world, exchanging individuals based on the needs of each breeding program. Occasionally, though, we get to watch an animal grow up right here at home – like Ursula, the Southern white rhino.
Born at Fossil Rim in October 2012 to mom Edith, Ursula has lived here in Glen Rose for the past 13 years. Being able to track the growth of an individual throughout their life is great for research, and Ursula has been a willing participant in rhino reproductive and health studies over the years.
In 2023, Ursula welcomed her second calf, Rocket, who can be viewed with her and the rest of the rhino herd in their pasture. Her pregnancy gave our animal care and veterinary teams the opportunity to track her hormone levels, conduct ultrasounds and gather other valuable data. This information will be used by the American Institute of Rhinoceros Science (AIRS) to create new ways to overcome several challenges of raising rhinos in human care.
Coincidentally, Rocket’s dad, Khari, also celebrates a birthday in October. This month he turns 12 years old. Khari comes to us from Florida, and has helped Fossil Rim welcome two rhino calves in just two years. He is one of our most recognizable individuals thanks to his fuzzy ears, and is often seen either napping with the herd or enjoying some alone time in our separate bull pen.
All of these special animals can be seen and celebrated both on a self-guided drive or safari tour. If you’d like to support their care, consider visiting Fossil Rim or making a donation at fossilrim.org/donate.