News and Stories

Seyia (aka Zuri), Cincinnati Zoo’s beloved female Black Rhino, was born on September 28, 2009, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She joined the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden family in August 2013 and has been stealing hearts ever since!

At 16 years old, Seyia has grown into a sweet, sassy, and incredibly affectionate rhino. She’s been with us since she was just three, and it’s been a joy to watch her personality shine. Her favorite things in life? Getting attention (and plenty of scratches) from her keepers—and, of course, enjoying her favorite treats like strawberry jam and apple-oat horse cookies!

Smart, Gentle, and Full of Personality

Seyia isn’t just adorable—she’s also one of the most cooperative and well-trained rhinos we’ve ever had the pleasure of caring for. She participates in regular training sessions that help us keep her healthy and happy.

Through positive reinforcement, Seyia has learned several important behaviors, including voluntary blood draws, which allow our veterinary team to check her health safely and stress-free. She’s also trained to lean her body against a barrier so keepers can reach any part of her body for exams or care. Whether it’s cleaning a small cut, applying fly spray, or giving her a good rubdown, Seyia is always a willing participant.

When Seyia isn’t training or hanging out with her keepers, she loves spending time rolling in her mud wallows, munching on fresh browse, and playing with her favorite toys. Her go-tos? Puzzle and rolling feeders—especially her cube feeder and bongo feeder. Sometimes we’ll even add a little strawberry jam to make playtime extra special!

A Rhino Family Legacy

Seyia came to Cincinnati through a breeding recommendation from the black rhino Species Survival Plan (SSP) and was paired with Faru, a male black rhino who arrived from Zoo Atlanta in 2015.

Faru already had one calf before joining us—a male named Jabari, born in 2013. Together, Seyia and Faru expanded the black rhino family here in Cincinnati with two beautiful calves:

• Kendi, born July 17, 2017
• Ajani Joe, born August 21, 2020

Both were incredible additions to the SSP program and to rhino conservation efforts worldwide.

To continue supporting the SSP’s mission, both Seyia and Faru received new breeding recommendations. Faru moved to Lincoln Park Zoo in October 2022, where he’s paired with two females.

And now, it’s Seyia’s turn for a new adventure! Seyia moved to her new home at the Milwaukee County Zoo on October 23.

Preparing for a move like this takes a lot of care and coordination—especially for an animal as large (and special!) as a rhino. To make her transition as smooth as possible, one of Milwaukee’s rhino keepers visited Cincinnati beforehand to meet Seyia, observe her daily routines, and spend time getting to know her. This way, when Seyia arrived, she already had a familiar face waiting to welcome her.

While it’s always bittersweet to say goodbye, we’re thrilled that Seyia will continue to contribute to rhino conservation and hopefully welcome future calves in her new home.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Rhinos at Cincinnati

Though our rhino barn is a little quieter right now, this isn’t goodbye forever. While Seyia is starting a new chapter, we’re already planning an exciting, brand-new, state-of-the-art habitat for rhinos right here at the Cincinnati Zoo!

This future space will be bigger, better, and even more enriching, ensuring that when rhinos return to Cincinnati, they’ll have the best home possible.

So for now, we’ll say, “See you later, Seyia”—and get ready to welcome a new generation of rhinos in the near future.

We love you, Seyia! Thank you for all the joy, mud baths, and jam-covered memories.