Female Indian Rhino Calf Born at Bronx Zoo Makes Its Public Debut [VIDEO]

The Wildlife Conservation Society announced that a baby one-horned rhinoceros born in the Bronx Zoo is ready for its public debut.

The greater one-horned rhinoceros or Indian rhino born at the Bornx zoo is the 13^th born at the zoo since 1986. Born to Penny (mother) and Sanjay (father) April 6, the female calf weighed 120 pounds at birth. The calf can grow approximately to 4,000 pounds as an adult. The gestation period for an Indian rhino is 16 months.

There are approximately 56 Indian rhinos (including the recent addition) in Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) accredited North American Zoos, reports Press release.

The female calf was born as a part of the AZA's Species Survival Plan that aims at maintaining genetic diversities in zoo populations of endangered species .

The Indian rhinos, native to the grasslands and swampy regions of northern India and southern Nepal, are mostly solitary animals. There are less than 3,000 Indian rhinos left in the wild and 70 percent of this population is in the Kaziranga National Park in India.

The rhino's skin is almost like armor plating and is extremely sensitive. They have a keen sense of smell and are able to move around quickly when they sense danger. They can change direction quickly despite their bulk and they charge at a speed of 30 miles an hour, reports National Geographic.

Their population has seen a fall because of their prominent horn, for which they are hunted mercilessly. Rhinos are slaughtered for their horns that are used in traditional medicines in countries like China, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. It is used for ornamentation in dagger handles in North Africa and the Middle East. A horn of rhino costs about $25,000 per pound.

There has been an uptick in the number of rhinos in India due to the conservation efforts and strict regulations. Indian rhinos are classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN and 'endangered' by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.