Oregon Zoo rhino Tamu reaches 2,040 pounds as conservation efforts continue

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Tamu, a 2-year-old male eastern black rhino at the Oregon Zoo, now weighs 2,040 pounds. Born on Dec. 4, 2023, he is nearing the size of his mother.

Zoo staff in Portland are observing his rapid growth as he approaches the weight of an adult rhino at a young age.

Tamu's mother, Jozi, weighs 2,600 pounds, while his father, King, is 3,100 pounds. Virginia Grimley, a keeper in the zoo's Africa area, noted Tamu's impressive development.

“He's the only 2-year-old I know who weighs a ton,” Grimley said. “He's growing up big and strong, just like a young rhinoceros should.” Zoo care staff anticipate significant future growth from Tamu.

Grimley, a keeper in the zoo's Africa area, described Tamu as engaging to observe. “Tamu is a lot of fun to watch,” Grimley said. “He might be almost as big as his parents, but he still runs around and plays like the young rhino he is.” Tamu is typically seen with Jozi, but he is approaching an age and size when wild male rhinos naturally separate from their mothers. Grimley indicated he might eventually need opportunities to interact with other young rhinos. Grimley emphasized the broader conservation importance of these animals, stating, “These animals represent a species that's among the most imperiled on the planet. Hopefully, Tamu can eventually have calves of his own and help grow the population.”

The eastern subspecies of black rhinoceros, to which Tamu and his parents belong, represents a critically endangered species. The western subspecies of black rhino was declared extinct in 2011. Poaching for rhino horn continues to be the primary threat to all five rhino species. The Oregon Zoo supports crucial on-the-ground initiatives designed to ensure their survival. Since 2013, the zoo has collaborated with the International Rhino Foundation, engaging in anti-poaching activities, intensive monitoring programs and community outreach. These combined efforts have contributed to an increase in the population of this critically endangered species.

Tamu's parents, Jozi and King, arrived at the Oregon Zoo in 2021. Jozi transferred from the Milwaukee County Zoo and King arrived from Chicago's Brookfield Zoo earlier that year. These transfers were based on recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for rhinos. The AZA's Species Survival Plans are cooperative programs established for many threatened or endangered species to foster genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations, ensuring the long-term future of these animals.

U.K. naturalist Steve Backshall highlighted the dire situation of wild rhino populations and the vital role of zoo-based conservation efforts. “We've gone from half a million to a few thousand rhinos left in the blink of an eye,” Backshall said. “While those left in the wild are ludicrously precious, the rhinos that are in zoos (which were bred there, born there and cannot ever be released into the wild) are of disproportionate importance to their kind.”