Portland, United States - December 04, 2024 Weighing in at an impressive 1,040 pounds, Tamu, the Oregon Zoo’s youngest black rhinoceros, celebrated his first birthday on December 4. Born to Jozi and King, Tamu is growing rapidly but still stays close to his 2,400-pound mother. “He’s the only 1-year-old I know who weighs half a ton,” said Kelly Gomez, head of the zoo’s Africa area. “We’re thrilled with his growth and progress.” Tamu and his family are part of the eastern black rhino subspecies, one of the most critically endangered species on Earth. With the western subspecies declared extinct in 2011, Tamu's story represents hope for the survival of rhinos, which are severely threatened by poaching for their horns. The Oregon Zoo, in partnership with the International Rhino Foundation, has worked since 2013 to safeguard rhinos through anti-poaching measures and local conservation programs. These efforts are beginning to pay off, with black rhino populations showing signs of recovery. Jozi and King were brought to the Oregon Zoo in 2021 as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, a program designed to maintain genetically diverse populations of endangered species. “We’ve gone from half a million to just a few thousand rhinos in the blink of an eye,” said U.K. naturalist Steve Backshall. “The rhinos in zoos, born and bred there, are of disproportionate importance to the survival of their kind.” Tamu’s milestone is more than a birthday; it’s a symbol of hope for one of the planet’s most imperiled species.