Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch welcomes third southern white rhino calf in 3 years

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in the Texas Hill Country has welcomed its third southern white rhinoceros calf in 3 years, marking a period of reproductive success for a species that can be challenging to breed consistently under human care.¹

The female calf, named Twuda, was born September 8 to mother Gertie and father Kutu. Based on early estimates, Twuda weighed approximately 150 pounds and measured 28 inches tall and 36 inches long at birth, according to the ranch.¹

The birth follows more than 2 decades of work toward the ranch's first successful southern white rhino birth, which occurred in late 2023. Two additional calves in the ensuing 3 years have helped establish what the ranch describes as a sustained breeding program. According to the ranch, Twuda is among fewer than 10 southern white rhino births publicly documented at US facilities so far in 2026.¹

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is a 500-acre safari destination home to more than 500 animals representing more than 40 species. Its work includes species conservation programs, veterinary collaboration, conservation education and research partnerships, with opportunities to advance knowledge of animal health, reproduction, behavior and welfare.¹

Reproductive success requires long-term management

Southern white rhinos reproduce relatively slowly, with pregnancies lasting approximately 15 to 16 months and typically resulting in a single calf. Females generally have several years between births, and research cited by the ranch has found that only about one-third of southern white rhinos living in zoological settings reproduce during their lifetimes.¹

A number of factors must align for successful reproduction, according to Stephen Momberg, director of veterinary care and research programs for Save the Giraffes.¹

“A southern white rhino birth is the result of years of attentive care and informed decision-making,” Momberg said in a statement.¹ “The timing, herd dynamics, genetics, nutrition, space, and long-term management all have to work together.”

For the ranch's animal-care team, the string of births has been especially rewarding. Tiffany Soechting, an animal specialist at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, called the achievement a milestone for both the team and the species.¹

“Three calves in three years is an extraordinary milestone for our team and for the future of this species,” Soechting said in a statement. “Every birth matters, and seeing this kind of continued success is incredibly meaningful.”

A new calf amid ongoing conservation concerns

The birth comes as wild rhino populations continue to face threats including poaching, habitat pressures, drought and increasingly fragmented populations. The International Rhino Foundation estimates that approximately 15,752 white rhinos remain across 11 African countries, down from an estimated 17,464 in 2023, according to the ranch.¹

Managed breeding programs are not a replacement for conservation efforts in rhinos' native habitats, but they can contribute to maintaining healthy, genetically sustainable populations under professional care while also supporting veterinary knowledge, research, conservation education and collaboration, according to the ranch.¹

For Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, Twuda's arrival represents another step in a breeding program that took more than 20 years to produce its first calf, and the ranch describes the third birth in 3 years as both a reason to celebrate and a reminder of the long-term commitment required to help secure the species' future.¹

Reference

1. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch welcomes third southern white rhino calf in three years. News release. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. September 22, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-bridge-wildlife-ranch-welcomes-third-southern-white-rhino-calf-in-three-years-302884938.html