Houston Zoo welcomes three new rhinos

HOUSTON After a 54-hour trip from Johannesburg, South Africa, the rhinos arrived at the Houston Zoo late Thursday afternoon and are settling into their new home. The new rhinos are all 5 years old. The male is named Sibindi. One female is named Lynne and the other female is named Annie-Kamaria.

The rhinos made the flight from Johannesburg to Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport in new specially designed 2,000 pound steel reinforced crates that allowed them to stand or lie down comfortably during their journey. After arrival at Bush Intercontinental Airport and clearance through customs, each crate was transferred to one of three flat bed trucks for the trip from the airport to their new home at the Houston Zoo.

"The rhinos went First Class all the way," said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. "They were accompanied on the flight by a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists from Kruger National Park."

The rhinos will make their home at The African Forest, a 6.5 acre addition to the Houston Zoo which will open to the public on December 10, 2010.