The Port Lympne Black Rhino Herd

Collectively (and aptly) referred to as a crash of rhino, there are currently 16 black rhinos crashing here at Port Lympne, read on for a short bio on the rest of the park’s herd!

Arusha: One of the older females born at the park, Arusha was born in1983.  She is a large rhino that loves a good scratch from her keepers -  and she’s also learned how to work her expression to get extra treats from them! 

Damara: Born to Vuyu at Port Lympne, Damara is currently sharing a paddock with the female Solio. While she can be a little highly strung, her temperament has become calmer recently. Like Vuyu, she has a large and muscular build.

Grumeti: Born to Etna in 2007, and was sired by Mwaniki (who sadly died in late 2005).  Very gentle by nature, but sometimes a little shy, Grumeti will readily lie down for a scratch from the keepers. More recently, Grumeti also decided that safari landrovers make great scratching posts! Paired with Zawadi, they are quite a mischievous duo.

Kingo: A sire to many of our herd’s calves, he was born at the zoo in 1983.  He is very amiable and loves company, sunbathing, attention and a good wallow!  Ever-curious about what the keepers are doing, he loves a good hose-down in the summer.

Monduli: The first of Ruaha's calves, he has come a log way from his pint sized beginnings - where he once weighed in at around 40 kg, he now weighs nearly 1 tonne!  While his horn has already started growing, it will take about 10 years before he is a fully grown adult. Monduli has been separated from Ruaha and will soon be paired up with another female for breeding. Like Ruaha, Monduli seems to be relatively unfazed by keeper attention, and prefers the company of other rhinos.

Nakuru: A female born at Port Lympne in 1987 to Rukwa. Temperamental by nature, she can quickly switch between friendly affection and cantankerous grumpiness. Preferring the solo life, she doesn’t get on too well with other rhinos – even including her mother Rukwa!

Nkosi: Born in 2011 to Ruaha, his name means ‘king’.  This adorable infant is very friendly and loves extra attention. His personality is in stark contrast to that of Ruaha, which is unusual as rhino infants quite often take after their mothers’ temperament.

Nyasa: Born at the park in 2003.  She was also born at the park. She is currently in with the male Zambezi. They make a compatible couple so we’re hoping to see some calves very soon. 

Nyota: In early December 2009, after a gestation period lasting a staggering 15 months, Vuyu started showing all the classic signs of an imminent birth.  Port Lympne received a welcome Christmas present that year in the form of Nyota, who was born early Christmas morning. The name Nyota means "baby star" in Swahili.

Rosie: This feisty female arrived from another UK zoo in 2011. She took a little while to settle in and was quite grumpy and badly behaved at first.  However, she has since calmed down and seems very happy in her new surroundings.

Ruaha: Since her birth in 1996 at Port Lympne, Ruaha has already given birth to 2 calves, both male.  Her most recent birth was Nkosi, born in February 2011.  Indifferent to the keeper’s attention, Ruaha is very independent and doesn’t seek attention. However she is very food oriented – which could explain why she is one of our heaviest rhinos!

Rukwa: A wild-caught animal born in around 1970, Rukwa is the oldest black rhino in Europe.  Since arriving at the park at the age of 3, she has had 8 calves and is now in breeding retirement.  She has a very calm and relaxed nature and enjoys a scratch from the keepers.

Solio: A female born to Rukwa in 2001.  She is small but chubby and has short horns.  She can be quite playful and friendly but doesn’t seek out too much attention.  She usually takes a back seat with the other rhinos and takes the world in her stride - she is now with Damara.

Vuyu: A wild-born animal who was donated to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park by the South African National Parks Board in 1994. Like Etna, she has played an important breeding role, having also given birth to 4 calves – one of which was sent to a wild protected reserve in Africa. Uninterested by any of the keepers’ devoted attention, she is known for being somewhat destructive at times!  She does have her good days though, and will sometimes let keepers give her a pat and say hello. She’s sometime partial to the occasional banana treat too!

Zambezi: This young male was born at the park in 2002.  He spent many years out on the African Experience before being moved back into the main park for breeding.  He is an independent, confident and very attractive rhino, and seems very taken with his partner Nyasa!

Zawadi was born in Berlin in 2007.  She arrived at Port Lympne in spring 2010 and spent her first summer on the African Experience with Grumeti.  Friendly by nature, she is quite large for her age and has very big ears.