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It's Jojo! NC Zoo names its youngest southern white rhino

In a video released Monday, First Lady of North Carolina Kristin Cooper announced the news that Jojo received the most votes among four options recommended by the zoo's rhino keepers.
Posted 2020-05-04T15:15:48+00:00 - Updated 2020-05-04T15:17:30+00:00
Credit: NC Zoo

The public has spoken, and Jojo is officially the name of the southern white rhino born at the North Carolina Zoo this year.

In a video released Monday, First Lady of North Carolina Kristin Cooper announced the news that Jojo received the most votes among four options recommended by the zoo's rhino keepers. The other choices were Rubybelle, Etosha and Kendi. Jojo was born on Feb. 24, to mom Linda and dad Stormy. She's the second white rhino born at the zoo this year. Mguu was born in early January.

“Jojo" is named after rhino keeper Joseph “Jojo” Wachira of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, according to the NC Zoo. Wachira was one of the last caretakers of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, featured in the documentary film “Kifaru.” Wachira’s connection to North Carolina began when he visited the RiverRun International Film Festival in 2019 with North Carolina-based director Andrew Brown for the showing of “Kifaru” in Winston-Salem.

When notified of the name choice, Wachira was “deeply honored to hear the news – this is what I believe in and fight for every day – saving rhinos," according to the zoo.

The zoo now has 10 rhinos, who roam the 40-acre Watani Grasslands habitat, including Nandi and Bonnie, two girls who were born in 2018.

The zoo, which is in Asheboro, is currently closed to the public because of the pandemic. But it's offering a variety of at-home activities for kids and families.

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