Rhino pleased as punch with World Rhino Day gift

Keepers at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo celebrated World Rhino Day on 22 September, with resident greater one-horned rhino Bertus receiving a large punch bag and colourful boxes filled with treats as enrichment.

Although initially shy of his new toy, Bertus warmed up to his bright red punch bag and gave it a good knock. Besides being fun to play with, the punch bag also helps encourage natural behaviours, as in the wild rhinos like to rub against fallen logs and when the bag moves, it is a natural instinct for Bertus to push it back. He also thoroughly enjoyed peeking into the painted World Rhino Day boxes, which were filled with hay and his favourite fruits.

It is thanks to animals like Bertus that RZSS is able to raise awareness of the fight against illegal rhino poaching in the wild, and positive enrichment of this sort is a good way of encouraging natural behaviours and ensuring Bertus is kept in peak physical condition.

RZSS is part of the European Endangered Species Programme for the greater one-horned rhino, and is supporting the conservation of other rhino species in Africa. In partnership with TRACE Wildlife Forensics, RZSS is combating the illegal wildlife trade by developing forensic capacity to increase law enforcement success. This work aims to disrupt established organised criminal activity involving species such as elephants, rhinoceroses, lions and pangolins.

Karen Stiven, Hoofstock Team Leader at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “World Rhino Day is an important celebration as it brings much needed attention to the plight of rhinos. Many species of rhino face the very real threat of extinction as a result of poaching for their horns, which are believed to have medicinal properties in some Asian countries.

“It is encouraging that the greater one-horned rhino has been upgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List as a result of strict protection in India; however, the increasing deterioration of their habitat could jeopardise the further recovery of this species. Through our involvement in World Rhino Day, we hope to create awareness of issues such as this one and encourage people to become motivated about the importance of conservation.”