Chester Zoo uses thermal imaging camera to monitor baby rhino

by Amy Judd | January 2, 2009 at 04:36 pm

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Chester Zoo is using thermal imaging to make sure the newest addition to their rhino habitat doesn't freeze this winter.

Asani, is an Eastern Black Rhino calf, and is extremely rare. He was born at the end of October and is the first black rhino calf at the zoo for about 10 years.

The pair are now living outside the rhino habitat, and while this is normal, the unusually cold weather the UK is experiencing is not. Therefore, the staff are using a thermal imaging camera to monitor the calf and make sure he doesn't get too cold.

Kevin Buley, Chester Zoo's Head of Zoo Programmes, said: "Our rhino calf continues to go from strength to strength but we are not complacent. It's important that both he and Kitani get out and about but the freezing conditions mean we keep an extra eye on them.

"The images allow us to determine their body temperatures and gauge how they are faring outside and also how long they can be comfortably outside for."

If the rhinos' body temperatures drop, then they are brought back inside into the warmth.

"In these early days, it's a fine balance in terms of care for the calf but the thermal imaging also lets us know how mum is getting on too.

There are only a sad number of 700 Black Rhinos left in the wild throughout the whole world.