The little rhinoceros Duna, born in Terra Natura Benidorm, has celebrated her second birthday this morning with a big dessert, made with more than 40 kilos of her favourite fruits and vegetables. The birth of this baby rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) was very important at the Conservation level in the Iberian Peninsula because it is the second time that the reproduction of this threatened species was achieved in a zoo in Spain.

Our team of zoo keepers have prepared this surprise for the little rhinoceros, who has been by her mother side during the celebration. During her birthday, an educator has offered a talk about rhinos, explaining anecdotes of this baby and the state of conservation of this species, it´s also been told the threats that rhinos have in their wild state.

Duna has enjoyed a lot the lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, apples and bananas dessert that´s been made up for her in this special birthday. Duna lives in the meadows of the Asian area with her mother Shiwa and her aunt Nisha and she has an excellent relationship with both adult females.

The Indian rhinoceros is in danger of extinction according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is a protected and threatened species that is included in Annex I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). It is estimated that their populations in the wild have about 3,000 specimens.

Habitat loss and poaching are two of the main threats to their populations. The false belief that their horns have healing and aphrodisiac powers has raised the pressure on this species in the Asian market.

Reproduction programme

Terra Natura Benidorm participates in the European programme of endangered species (EEP) of the Indian rhinoceros, promoted by the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums). The first birth of this species in our zoo was in 2012 with the arrival of Shusto, and in 2015 Duna was born. The Indian rhinoceros is one of the three species of rhinoceros that are part of the breeding programmes developed by EAZA, to which Terra Natura Benidorm belongs.