A Rhinoceros Has Been Spotted in Minnesota
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Have you ever seen a rhinoceros in Minnesota before? I am going to take a wild guess and say that your answer is "no" because up until the other day, the entire state of Minnesota has never been home to a rhino. NEVER. But, thanks to a zoo in our state that is dedicated to Rhino conservation, you can now see a rhino up close for the first time ever.
Hemker Park & Zoo in Freeport, Minnesota sent me a photo of baby Tio, a 2,000 pound 2-year-old rhino that just joined them. He's an adorable "little" guy that is now part of their state of the art indoor Rhino facility and 2-acre outdoor yard. Staff at the zoo say that he is "curious, full of energy and loves the attention he gets from everyone.". Not sure about you but I just want to give him a great big hug.
Tio is a 2-year-old Greater One-Horned Rhino male that weighs in at over 2,000 pounds. Yet, he is still young and will weigh around 5,000 pounds when he is fully grown! Greater One-Horned rhinos are found throughout Northern India and Southern Nepal. These rhinos are usually solitary except for females with young. Their thick skin is an ashy gray and has an armor-like appearance due to thick folds and tubercles. Greater one-horned rhinos, also called Indian rhinos, are the second largest rhino species. - Hemker Park & Zoo
I know MEA weekend is coming up and if you are looking for something fun to do, taking a road trip to see baby Tio sounds like so much fun. Hemker Park & Zoo has over 200 animals in it including giraffes, red panda, kangaroos, and now a rhino. Learn more about their hours and get directions on their website here.
Do you know another fun activity that is perfect for MEA weekend? I'd love to hear about it so please message me on my Facebook page - Jessica On The Radio.
Listen to Jessica Williams weekdays from 6 am until 10 am on Y105FM's Early Morning Show with James Rabe and Jessica Williams