Meet Our New Rhino
Posted at 11:23 am September 8, 2008 by Laura WeinerIf you have walked on Elephant Mesa at the San Diego Zoo lately, you may have noticed a handsome new resident. He is our new Indian rhinoceros, named Soman. He came to us about two months ago from the Wild Animal Park and has been settling in to his new home nicely.
He was delivered in a crate on a warm day in July all revved up and ready to go. He came out and ran around the exhibit huffing and puffing, all of the things one might expect from a rhino. He went crashing through his pool and kicked water all over the exhibit. Anyone who walked by got an authentic rhino charge. He even charged the keepers at the back pipe fence when they walked around behind him.
But how things can change in a month or two. Now he is almost like Gram, our last Indian rhino who went to a zoo in Kansas last October (see blog, Gram the Rhino: Journey Begins). Whenever I call him, he walks over calmly to me for a treat. I have started training him with some basic husbandry behaviors, which he truly enjoys. At the Wild Animal Park they have so many rhinos in such a large area that it is difficult to give each one individual attention. At the Zoo, Soman gets one-on-one time every day with his keepers.
Even for their thick skin, rhinos love to be rubbed and brushed. It took Soman a few weeks to realize that when I touched his belly it wasn’t a bad thing. Well, now it seems he had too much of a good thing. When we are doing behaviors he will decide he is through and wants to be rubbed. He will back up his rear to the fence and just stand there waiting for me to pet him. It is too cute to resist, so I do give in for a bit. You can always tell he is happy because he lifts his tail a few inches. I have also started training him to lie down, which is a great way to check out his feet and abdomen. He receives a full brushing while down. A rhino spa!
Soon we should be getting another young male rhino from the Wild Animal Park as a companion for Soman. Training two rhinos, ages 3 and 2, will be a challenge but I am up for it. Rhinos are such great animals to spend time with. My favorite thing is showing the guests how different they are from what most people perceive: calm, relaxed, and attention-loving animals who can charge at 35 miles per hour if they get upset! Come and visit Soman next time you head to the Zoo. He’ll be in his pool under his fountain. Or getting a nice belly rub!
Laura Weiner is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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September 8th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Awwww… what a happy and lucky rhino Soman is — thanks for the charming story. I will definitely give Soman a visit next time I’m at the SDZ — he sounds like a charmer.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Love rhinos. Thanx for the introduction to Soman. And what a nice story too. =)
September 8th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
What a great blog! Hopefully we can get a picture of the guy soon.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Yes, I’m so happy rhinos are back on Elephant Mesa!! He was not the same without rhinos. I hope Soman is doing great and I can’t wait to come see him!!
September 8th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
What a great story – and where else but at SDZ would there be a rhino spa? Hearing about how quickly Soman caught on to the belly rub just reaffirms my belief that animals are much, much smarter than many humans give them credit for. I would love to see Soman’s picture soon.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Great to hear about Soman and how well he is doing. I have seen him several times and what a handsome boy is he. I have taken pictures of him and I am thrilled he seems to pose, got great pictures of him in his pool and some close ups.
Great job on your training and in return he gets rubbed and the spa treatment, Rhino style only at the SDZ. Can’t wait to see our other addition when he arrives.
Thanks for the update. I missed seeing our handsome Gram and now we have Soman.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Thanks, Laura for a wonderful introduction to Soman. He is one very lucky guy. His own private Rhino Spa. What a hoot. I would love to see it. Maybe you can get a video of it one day?
September 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I hope Soman likes his new home!
September 26th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I appreciate your weekly updates and enjoy them but I would enjoy them much more if you gave us teasers, or short films of these animals that we enjoy seeing. We can’t all go to the zoo and wild animal park but the video makes a great improvement in our lives. Please see if this can’t be accomplished.
Moderator’s note: Thanks for the suggestion, we’ll look into it!
September 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I no longer live in CA, so it tickles me when the Zoo newsletter drops into my mailbox. I can still enjoy my visits with the animal ” cousins” even if only vicariously. Thanks for all the good work!
September 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I no longer live in CA, so it tickles me when the Zoo newsletter drops into my mailbox. I can still enjoy my visits with the animal ” cousins” even if only vicariously. Thanks for all the good work!
September 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
It will be nice to have a Rhino at the Zoo. I was sad when Gram went away, because next to Elephants, Rhinos are one of my favorite animals. And they were in the same area of the Zoo. Now Elephants, Giraffes, and Rhinos will be near each other. How exciting! I’ll be sure to visit soon.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for the info about the new baby Rino, I wonder how much he weighs? Wish I could get a belly rub!
Just kidding Laura, take care, Sincerely,
David C.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I like rhinos!!!!! I can’t believe that their is a new rhino!!!! Yay