Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks joined Zoo Director Larry Sorel and Zoo Society Executive Director Rachel Baker August to welcome Bill, a white rhino, to Seneca Park Zoo. Bill, a 3 year old 2,800 pound male white rhino joins Roscoe, a 3 ½ year old 3,100 pound male in the White Rhino Exhibit at Seneca Park Zoo.

 

Bill is the half-brother of Roscoe, the Zoo’s resident white rhino. The two were recently reunited.

 

“We are excited to introduce to the community Bill the White Rhino,”said Brooks.“Like Roscoe, Bill comes to us from the Knoxville Zoo in Knoxville, Tennessee. We’re thrilled to welcome Bill to Seneca Park Zoo, where he’ll have a great home and plenty of visitors to keep him and Roscoe company.”

 

The white rhino is one of five species of rhinos. White rhinos aren’t actually white in color, but gray. The name “white” comes from a Dutch word wijde or weit meaning “wide” andrefers to the rhino’s wide square-shaped upper lip and expansive low-slung mouth.

 

Bill and Roscoe are one of 15 Species Survival Plan (SSP) species now at the Zoo. The SSP is dedicated to the reproduction and conservation of rare and endangered species.