San Diego Zoo donated a rhino named Eric to Tanzania
An eastern black rhino born and bred in San Diego has been donated to Tanzania as part of an ongoing effort to save the species from extinction.
The zoo gifted the eight-year-old to the eastern African nation in an attempt to promote breeding in the greater Serengeti ecosystem.
Eric’s new home will be the 350,000-acre Singita Grumeti, a private concession which is working with the Tanzanian Wildlife Management Authority and Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute to attempt to increase the local population of black rhinos.
There is a lot of excitement and anticipation for what Eric’s arrival means for rhino conservation in Tanzania,” said Stephen Cunliffe, executive director of the Singita Grumeti Fund.
He will be slowly acclimated to his new surroundings, and we hope within 12 to 18 months he will be a wild, free-ranging black rhino.
Eric, who was born at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2010, has undergone a months-long preparation programme to get him ready for his move.
