Dierenrijk ready for the future with new name: Eindhoven Zoo

Male 8-year-old Indian rhino Gainda has moved from Eindhoven Zoo to Nuremberg Zoo. Narayani, the 36-year-old female, will also move to another zoo later this year to enjoy her old age.

The move is as part of the animal management programme. Head of animal care Stephan Rijnen: ‘The coordinator of such a programme always looks at what is best for the animals and that is by no means always with the aim of having cubs. Sometimes this can also be a suitable place where animals can spend their old age, or form male or female groups. Narayani is already elderly and a female rhino is alone in Nuremberg. Our enclosure is also suitable for a pair with cubs. Therefore, it has been decided from the management programme that we will soon have a younger pair, with the hope that we will be able to welcome a calf in a few years.’

Threats to the rhino

The Indian rhino is threatened by several factors. These animals face poaching, destruction and habitat reduction, among others. Consequently, this rhino species falls in the ‘vulnerable’ category on the IUCN Red List. This is why there is a management programme for this species. Eindhoven Zoo also supports Stichting Wildlife, which works on various nature conservation projects, such as those of the International Rhino Foundation. This organisation carries out various activities to combat Indian rhino poaching.

The Indian rhino is distinguished from other species by its size, large head and the presence of only two skin folds on its belly. This species has one horn measuring about 60 centimetres and weighs between 1800 and 2200 kilos on average. The animals are found in northern India and Nepal, where they live in swampy areas rich in grasses.