Santa Rosa Safari West welcomes newborn white rhino ‘Ozzy’

(BCN) — Early Tuesday morning, Santa Rosa’s Safari West wildlife preserve delivered a healthy Southern white rhinoceros calf into the world. His namesake: Ozzy Osbourne, having been born on the same day as the rock legend’s passing.

Born to 20-year-old mother Eesha and 29-year-old father Ongava, the newborn calf completes the rhino family, joining his older brother Otto, who was born on April 2, 2023. All reside at Safari West, with Ongava on a long-standing loan from the Indianapolis Zoo, which holds ownership of both him and the newborn calf.

Ozzy is expected to nurse and stay quite close to mom for up to two years, still having much to learn. However, if Ozzy is anything like his older brother Otto, he may prove to be quite independent and wean off of Eesha early. Ozzy’s progress will be closely monitored by the animal care team and adjusted as needed.

The opportunity to view the new calf is on the immediate horizon for visitors to Safari West, a 400-acre private wildlife preserve in Sonoma County operated by founders Nancy and Peter Lang.

“This is a joyful moment for Safari West,” said Nancy Lang. “Every rhino birth inspires hope and underscores the importance of protecting these extraordinary animals.”

The birth is not only exciting for Safari West and its visitors, but is also a massive achievement for ongoing conservation efforts, the Langs said in a news release on Wednesday. Southern white rhinos are classified as “near threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. According to the International Rhino Foundation’s “2024 State of the Rhino” report, there are only 17,500 remaining in the wild.

The community protecting these animals has seen their population numbers swing drastically over the years – – rebounding from only 100 individuals in the early 1900s to 21,000 in 2012. In 2023, despite poaching and other threats, the species saw its first population increase in over a decade with a 3.4% rise.

“The Indianapolis Zoo celebrates this new southern white rhinoceros calf, which is a win for the global conservation efforts of this amazing animal,” said Indianapolis Zoo President Rob Shumaker. Safari West and Indianapolis Zoo officials say they recognize the importance of protecting wildlife for future generations, and that when people have the chance to connect with a rhino up close, a sense of awe and wonder emerges.

“And that’s where real conservation starts,” Nancy Lang said.

Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc.