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Summary of Description:
Joona, a greater one-horned rhino, turned three on February 22 and celebrated with her keepers and a cardboard box. She weighs over 3,000 pounds and is growing like a weed, and her animal care team is supporting her budding independence by allowing her time alone in her habitat without her mother, Tensing. Joona and Tensing can often be together in the Toyota Elephant Passage, playing and soaking in the sun.
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Joona, the Greater One-Horned Rhino, Celebrates Her Third Birthday
Joona, our beloved Greater One-Horned Rhino, recently celebrated her third birthday on February 22. Joona has been a precious part of the Denver Zoo family since birth, and her caretakers were thrilled to celebrate her special day.
Growing Up Like a Weed
Joona’s caretakers have reported that she is growing up rapidly, just like any child. She weighs 3,000 pounds and is roughly the same size as Rudy, the critically endangered black rhino. Despite her large stature, Joona easily meets all of her developmental milestones.
Natural Developmental Processes
Joona is currently in the midst of a natural developmental process. Her caretakers are actively teaching her independence, which is a process that occurs in the wild and zoos when Greater One-Horned Rhinos reach the ages of three and four.
Budding Independence
Joona’s caretakers have been actively encouraging her budding independence. She now has access to the habitat without her mother, Tensing, which gives Tensing some much-needed alone time while enabling Joona to explore her surroundings independently.
Exploring the Habitat
Joona has taken to her newfound independence like a fish to water. Her caretakers are dedicated to nurturing her growing sense of freedom and exploration. When she’s not spending time with her mother, Joona can be found exploring her habitat, soaking in the sun, and soaking up new experiences.
Playing with Her Mother
When Joona and Tensing are together, they love nothing more than wallowing and playing spar. These playful activities are essential to Joona’s development and help her develop her coordination and strength further.
Celebrating with a Cardboard Box
Of course, no birthday celebration is complete without handmade gifts. Joona celebrated her special day in true rhino fashion, playing with one of her favorite recycled enrichment items – a cardboard box. Her caretakers report that Joona had a blast playing with her gift, and watching the joy she experienced was heartwarming.
Joining in the Celebration
Joona’s third birthday may have already passed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate! Joona remains an essential part of the Denver Zoo family, and we are all so proud of her progress. We invite you to join us in wishing Joona a happy belated birthday and many more to come!
In conclusion, Joona’s thriving, and her caretakers couldn’t be more thrilled. Joona’s growth and developmental milestones are a testament to her caretakers’ dedication and hard work. We look forward to watching her continue to grow and mature.
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Source Description
Please join us in wishing a pleased belated birthday to Joona, our not-so-little greater one-horned rhino! She turned three on February 22 and celebrated her big day with lots of love from her keepers and one of her favorite recycled enrichment items; a cardboard box! Her keepers report that she’s growing like a weed (she now weighs 3,000 pounds, which is about the same size as Rudy the Critically Endangered Black Rhino), and they’re happy to share that she’s continuing to reach all her developmental milestones. Joona’s animal care team is currently supporting her budding independence. This natural process occurs both in the wild and in human care for greater one-horned rhinos between the ages of three and four. Joona may have access to the habitat without Tensing, giving Mom some well-deserved alone time and Joona a chance to explore independently. When they do not have solo time, Joona and Tensing can be found together in Toyota Elephant Passage wallowing, playing sparring, and soaking in the sun!
Video Credit: Keeper Caitlin J.
