Mohan, 5, comes to OKC Zoo’s Sanctuary Asia from the Buffalo Zoo on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Guests are eagerly awaiting the debut of Mohan, an Indian rhinoceros, also known as a greater one-horned rhinoceros, and newest member of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s animal family. The 5-year-old male rhino is in quarantine at the OKC Zoo’s rhino barn and outdoor habitat after arriving from the Buffalo Zoo, but is soon expected to be on public view at Sanctuary Asia.
Mohan will join Niki (17) and Shanti (37) in the rhino habitat as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for rhinos on a breeding recommendation. Mohan’s name is derived from Sanskrit and means “fascinating,” “charming,” and “enchanting.”
“We are excited to welcome Mohan and to re-establish our rhino breeding program,” said Kristofer Flickinger, OKC Zoo’s Assistant Curator of Elephants and Rhinos. “His expected mate will be Niki.”
Shanti, the Zoo’s other female Indian rhino, is Mohan’s grandmother.
Mohan’s arrival is significant for the future of the species. The Indian rhinoceros, or Rhinoceros unicornis, is on the rebound after nearly going extinct in the early 20th century, when the wild population fell to fewer than 100 individuals. Today, populations have increased to more than 4,000 rhinos in northeastern India and the Terai grasslands of Nepal thanks to strict protection and management from wildlife authorities, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The species remains on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species as vulnerable.
“We’ll be getting to know Mohan better as he’s integrated with our herd, but we know he’s extremely playful,” Flickinger said. “So we think he’ll be a favorite for our guests.”
Indian rhinos are grazers on land, but spend a lot of time in the water, where they nosh on aquatic plants, as well. At their largest, the animals can grow to about 6,000 pounds and more than six feet tall with a body longer than ten feet. Large animals have large appetites, too—they eat roughly one percent of their body weight each day, which translates to about 60 pounds of food daily. For such big bodies, they’re quite speedy, topping out at almost 35 miles per hour when running.
Shanti is the oldest Indian rhino in human care in North America and still going strong. In the wild, greater one-horned rhinos have a lifespan of about 40 years, according to National Geographic.
This summer, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) along with community sponsors Western Door & Plywood Inc., Blue Rhino Restoration, and Curbside Apparel, hosted Bowling for Rhinos, an annual fundraiser for wild rhino conservation. Rhino fans of all ages rolled out for the occasion to help raise awareness and funding for rhino and habitat conservation. The OKC Zoo’s AAZK chapter has hosted this beloved event since 1995, raising $400,000 for the cause over the last 29 years and is the second highest fundraiser among more than 85 AAZK chapters in North America.
There are multiple ways to connect with the Indian rhino herd at the Zoo. Rhino feeding experiences are $10 per person and occur 11:30 a.m. to noon, Thursday through Sunday, in Sanctuary Asia. Rhino Wild Encounters take place Monday-Wednesday at 11:20 a.m. and must be purchased in advance. Guests can go behind the scenes in the rhino barn to meet a member of the herd and learn more about rhinos from caretakers. Visit okczoo.org/plan_your_visit to learn more.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry no later than 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free.
Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Looking for a year of Zoo adventures? Consider a 12-month, ZOOfriends Membership Passport to the OKC Zoo providing general admission year-round and exclusive offers while supporting the Zoo’s ongoing animal care and conservation programs. Memberships can be purchased at okczoo.org/membership.