The Rhino Savanna: A Natural Habitat

Black Rhino

By RoxAnna Breitigan, Director of Animal Care

If you’ve visited the zoo lately, it is obvious that construction is well underway on Rhino Savanna—The Living Desert’s Crossroads of Conservation capital expansion project. One aspect that isn’t so obvious is the thoughtful planning that went into the design of the habitats to create the most optimal level of well-being for the animals.

The new Rhino Savanna will be a multi-species habitat, which means that a variety of animals will live among each other and share the same space. The dynamic pair of black rhinos will be joined by smaller antelope species like waterbuck, klipspringer and springbok, and bird species like pelicans and vultures will also call this new area home. The new habitats will be a truly engaging environment for the species—as well as for guests’ viewing—with different feeding, water features, and individualized nooks for the animals to safely seek out shelter.