Rhinos at Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Explore New HabitatSix southern white rhinos at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park take in the sights, smells and sounds of an area in their 3.5-acre habitat that they had not explored before today.The female rhinos, between 4 and 7 years of age, were relocated to the Safari Park from private reserves in South Africa in November 2015, as part of a collaborative conservation effort to save the critically endangered northern white rhino—and all rhino species—from extinction. Since their arrival at the Safari Park, the rhinos have been in their off-exhibit yards, out of public view, while their dedicated keepers work to build a rapport with them and ensure that they are comfortable in their environment. The animals are being trained, through positive reinforcement, to receive any needed medical procedures, as they could potentially serve as surrogates through assisted reproductive techniques for a northern white rhino, in the distant future.On any given day, visitors to the Safari Park may be able to see one or more of the southern white rhinos from the Africa Tram Safari, as keepers continue their training sessions and rotate them from the back area to the Rhino Rescue Center exhibit yard.Photo taken on Feb. 18, 2016 by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park.###PERMITTED USE: Images are provided to the media solely for reproduction, public display, and distribution in a professional journalistic context in connection with newspaper, magazine, broadcast media (radio, television) or Internet media (ad enabled blog, webcasts, webinars, podcasts). Images may not be made available for public or commercial download, licensing or sale.REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the southern white rhino. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo are subject to paid licensing.
Rhinos at Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Explore New Habitat. Photo by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Six southern white rhinos brought to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park last fall explored their 3.5-acre habitat for the first time Thursday.

The rhinos came over from private reserves in South Africa in November in an attempt to save their endangered species, and that of their near-extinct northern white rhino cousins.

The female rhinos, between 4 and 7 years old, had been kept in off- exhibit yards so they could get acclimated to the move and their handlers.

The animals are being trained by their animal keepers to receive any needed medical procedures.

With just three northern white rhinos left in the world, San Diego Zoo Global officials and scientists are hoping that modern techniques will help them use stored DNA to create embryos to implant in the southern species, which would serve as surrogate mothers.

Scientists are optimistic that a northern white rhino calf could be born by using DNA within 10 to 15 years, according to the San Diego Zoo.

None of the three remaining northern white rhinos — all at a preserve in South Africa — are reproductive.

–City News Service