Four white rhinos from Europe landed safely in Guadalajara

Four white rhinos have arrived at Zoológico Guadalajara, the first move of the species from Europe to Mexico under the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria breeding program. Kreiszeitung reported the landing on November 3, 2026. Salma, born on February 6, 2021, and Moana, born on December 26, 2016, came from Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen in Germany. They traveled with Lewa, a female from Safari de Peaugres in France, and Wami, a male from the zoo in Paris. The four flew from Paris to Guadalajara. The Guadalajara zoo built a new rhino facility for them.

Ingo Schmidinger, zoological director at the Hodenhagen park, was on the cargo plane and could reach the animals during the flight. He said Salma and Moana were nervous at first and then settled. After landing, trucks took the crates to the zoo, and a crane set them at the quarantine gates. The two German females are eating and calling to rhinos in neighboring pens. Moana has already stood at the fence and let a keeper scratch behind her ear. Visitors will not see the four yet. They stay in quarantine at least 30 days, then meet gradually. A white rhino pregnancy lasts about 16 months, so any calf is a long way off. Fabrizio Sepe, who runs the Hodenhagen park, said he hopes the group breeds and that he will one day see photos of offspring. The news is a safe arrival. It is not a birth.