While every rhino pregnancy is exciting, Sabi’s was especially so 🦏
Following her arrival in Toronto in 2012, hormone monitoring performed by our Reproductive Science team identified that Sabi exhibited “long” estrus cycles (~70 days in length, compared to the typical ~30 days of fertile females), which have made conception a significant challenge for her. Following continual adjustments in daily care and diet, Sabi’s behaviour in spring 2022 suggested that her hormonal cycles had switched from the long cycles to the typical cycle length.
The likelihood of successfully conceiving for the first time drops with age in many species, including White Rhinos, and Zoo staff were keenly aware of this with Sabi, who is 14-years-old. Your Toronto Zoo Wildlife Care and Reproductive Science teams were thrilled that the breeding introductions with White Rhino male Tom in summer 2022 were successful, and over 16 months later the team finally met Sabi’s little one.
Please note Sabi and her new baby are NOT currently visible to guests visiting the Zoo, but we will keep you updated when you can say hello for the first time
