Bringing the Zoo to You: A New Wildlife Presentation Series

by Rick LoBello

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that we need to do a better job sharing the stories of the amazing animals we have here at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Every weekend, our zoo staff and volunteers give educational presentations that help connect people with wildlife from around the world. Unfortunately, many people are not able to attend these programs in person. Some families cannot travel to the zoo, some may have health or transportation challenges, and others simply may not know these presentations are happening. Whatever the reason, I believe we should be reaching a much wider audience.

That’s why I’ve decided to start a new blog series focused on the animal presentations we give at the zoo.

One thing I have learned over the years is this: when people truly learn about animals, they begin to care about them. And when people care, they are much more likely to help protect wildlife and the natural world.

So here is the first blog in this new series — a presentation we often give on weekends at the zoo about one of our most impressive ambassadors, Taj, the greater one-horned rhinoceros.

Meet Taj: The El Paso Zoo’s Great One-Horned Rhinoceros Ambassador

Hello everyone, and welcome to our rhinoceros training program at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

One of the things I love most about working at a zoo is helping people understand that modern zoos are about much more than simply displaying animals. Behind the scenes, dedicated keepers, veterinarians, educators, and conservationists work every day to provide animals with the very best care possible while also helping save endangered wildlife around the world.

Our rhinoceros training demonstration may seem simple on the surface, but it represents something very important.

Why Do We Train Zoo Animals?

Many zoo guests are surprised to learn that we train our animals every day. Training is a critical part of animal care and wellbeing.

When our rhinoceros voluntarily comes close to the keepers, it allows staff to carefully observe him and monitor his health. By having him participate in training sessions, we can closely examine his skin, eyes, feet, mouth, and overall condition. If something doesn’t look right, our animal care team can quickly involve a veterinarian.

At the zoo, we take this responsibility very seriously. One of our biggest goals is making sure the animals we love receive the best possible care. We are fortunate to have our own animal hospital and two full-time veterinarians dedicated to helping care for these amazing creatures.

Training also provides mental stimulation and enrichment for the animals. It helps build trust between the keepers and the animals while making routine medical care less stressful.

Meet Taj, Our Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros

We are incredibly excited to have Taj, our greater one-horned rhinoceros, here at the zoo. Taj is almost nine years old and was born at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Wild Animal Park. Later, he moved to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle before eventually coming to El Paso a little over a few years ago. He will celebrate his ninth birthday in November.

During the training session, Taj is learning to touch a target stick with his nose. If you look carefully, you’ll notice the pointed shape on the end of his upper lip. This specialized feature is called a prehensile lip. Much like a spider monkey’s prehensile tail can grasp branches, Taj uses his lip to grab leaves and vegetation. He doesn’t swing from branches, of course, but he uses that remarkable lip to pull leaves from plants and trees before eating them.

A Rhino Ambassador

Taj is more than just an individual animal living at the zoo. He is an ambassador for his species and for rhinos everywhere. The greater one-horned rhinoceros, also called the Indian rhinoceros, once faced severe declines in the wild. Thanks to major conservation efforts in India and Nepal, populations have rebounded significantly. This species was once endangered but is now considered threatened rather than endangered.

Why were they in trouble?

Sadly, it was because of their horns. For many years, rhinos around the world have been killed for their horns because some people falsely believed the horn had medicinal value. The horn would be ground into powder and sold as a cure for various illnesses, even though there is very little scientific evidence to support those claims.

This illegal wildlife trade has devastated rhino populations worldwide.

The Five Species of Rhinos

There are five species of rhinoceros left on Earth. Three species are doing relatively well compared to the others, but two Asian species are in desperate trouble

The Javan Rhinoceros

The Javan rhinoceros is one of the rarest large mammals on Earth. There are only about 60 individuals left, all surviving on the island of Java in Indonesia. They resemble miniature greater one-horned rhinos.

The Sumatran Rhinoceros

The Sumatran rhinoceros may be one of the most prehistoric-looking animals alive today. Unlike other rhino species, they have hair covering parts of their bodies, reminding many people of the woolly rhinoceroses that once lived in Europe thousands of years ago. Very few Sumatran rhinos remain, and they are considered critically endangered.

Supporting Rhino Conservation

One exciting thing about having Taj at the zoo is that he has encouraged our zoo to become more involved in rhino conservation. For the first time, the zoo is now supporting the International Rhino Foundation, an organization working on the ground to help save both Javan and Sumatran rhinos. The foundation allows people to symbolically adopt a rhino to help support conservation efforts. I personally adopted a Sumatran rhino and even received a certificate.

Every person can make a difference.

A 5,000-Pound Giant With a Squeaky Voice

One of the funniest things about Taj is the sound he makes.

You might expect a huge animal weighing around 5,000 pounds to roar loudly, but instead Taj sometimes makes little squeaky noises when he gets excited. During some training sessions, he even runs alongside the keepers, which is always incredible to watch.

Taj eats more than 100 pounds of food every day, including hay, fruits, and vegetables. During training sessions, the keepers reward him with fruits and vegetables for participating.

Close Encounters With Taj

One of the truly unique things about the El Paso Zoo is that it offers guests an opportunity to have an up-close experience with Taj through the zoo’s “Close Encounters” program. Visitors can go behind the scenes, feed Taj, and learn more about rhinoceros care and conservation. It is one of the very few opportunities in the United States where guests can safely experience a rhino this closely. If you are looking for a memorable birthday gift or a special experience for someone you love, I highly recommend checking out the zoo’s Close Encounters tours.

Why Rhinos Matter

Rhinos are among the most extraordinary animals on Earth. They have survived for millions of years, yet today their future depends on us. Taj helps remind all of us that zoos can play an important role in wildlife conservation, education, veterinary care, and inspiring people to protect endangered species.

When guests meet Taj, they are not just meeting one animal. They are connecting with a story much larger than themselves — a story about conservation, hope, and humanity’s responsibility to protect the natural world.

Thank you to our incredible keepers and animal care staff for everything they do every day for Taj and all the animals at the zoo.

Photos by Rick LoBello