May 26, 1999
Web posted at: 6:31 p.m. EDT (2231 GMT)

DUBBO, Australia (CNN) -- One of the few black rhinos born in captivity made his public debut Wednesday at the Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales.

The as-yet-unnamed male was born April 29 and has been tended to in recent weeks by zoo workers and his mother, Kalungwizi, who came from Zimbabwe.

The Western Plains Zoo is home to one of the single largest zoo-based black rhinoceros groups in the world. Only 2,600 of the critically endangered species live in the wild.

The newest rhino's older brother, 3-year-old Kusomona, was also born under the zoo's unique conservation program.

"Programs like these ... tend to hang fire for a while, but then you get something like this and the program looks great. I think we are on the verge of something great for the black rhino," said David Blide, Life Sanctuary manager of the zoo.

The baby male is still waiting for a name. The zoo has launched a nationwide competition to pick one that's just right.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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