ZooTampa at Lowery Park in Florida just welcomed a new bundle of joy, and she’s too cute for words!

Kelele is a female southern white rhinoceros calf born to the world on Sunday, March 22, at 3:30 a.m. Her name is Swahili for “noise” and “highest peak.” She earned her name!

“Right after her birth, the new baby was very vocal,” reads ZooTampa’s announcement on Instagram. “For now, Kelele is behind the scenes spending some bonding time with mom, Kidogo. As she gets used to her surroundings, she can be seen testing out her running skills and exploring.”

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Weighing in at 80 to 100 pounds, Kelele is standing strong and currently nursing with her experienced mother, a 22-year-old named Kidogo. Her father is a healthy male named Mufasa.

Kelele is adorable with unique tufts of white hair on her ears, a new trait for rhinos at ZooTampa.

“Kidogo did well with the birth of her seventh baby, and she has been very attentive,” said Chris Massaro, senior VP and chief zoological officer, in a statement. “The birth is also special for second-time dad, Mufasa, with the arrival of his first daughter.”

Related: Meet Linh Mai, the Smithsonian National Zoo’s Newest Baby Asian Elephant

Kelele is the 10th southern white rhino to be born at ZooTampa, an organization run by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent nonprofit organization committed to excellence in conservation, education and research.

“The calf is a critical step in our ongoing effort to save the imperiled species from extinction,” Massaro added. “Each calf born here represents a strong, multigenerational crash that contributes to conservation efforts around the world.”

How Rare Are Southern White Rhinos?

Southern white rhinos were once on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 100 in the wild at the start of the 20th century. Today, there are approximately 16,800 across 11 African countries, but it’s still very important to protect and maintain this population.

The rhinos have a gestation period of 16 to 18 months, and although they live for about 40 to 50 years, they only give birth once every two to five years.

Kelele is a beautiful specimen whose very life helps keep this beautiful species alive—the second-largest mammal species in the world, second only to the mighty elephant.

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This story was originally published by PawNation on Mar 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add PawNation as a Preferred Source by clicking here.