California conservation names white rhino calf after rock legend

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A white rhino was born in California the same day rock and roll legend Ozzy Osbourne died. The wildlife reserve decided to honor the musician and Black Sabbath frontman by naming the rare creature after him.

“In a poignant reflection of the circle of life, Ozzy arrived on the very same day the world lost music icon Ozzy Osbourne,” Santa Rosa’s Safari West wrote in a statement. “While known for his bold persona, Osbourne remains a symbol of cultural legacy and endurance — qualities we celebrate with the arrival of this new life.”

The calf joins 2-year-old brother Otto and 20-year-old mother Eesha in Safari West’s rhino herd. 

The breeding of white rhinos was done in agreement with The Indianapolis Zoo, meaning both share stewardship of the new baby.

White rhinos are classified as “near threatened” on the the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. According to the organization, which is the world’s largest resource list on extinction risks to animals, their population was decreasing in 2020. 

White rhinos, once widespread across southern Africa, were on the brink of extinction at the end of the 19th century, according to IUCN. At that time, the population was reduced to an estimated 20-50 animals, but in 2012 — thanks to many conservation efforts — their population increased back up to more than 21,000 white rhinos being in the wild. 

Updated reports from the International Rhino Foundation say there are an estimated 17,500 white rhinos in the wild as of 2024. Poaching has once again put the species at risk, according to Safari West.

“Every rhino birth inspires hope and underscores the importance of protecting these extraordinary animals,” said Dr. Nancy Lang, Safari West’s founder and conservation director in a statement. “We’re honored to care for this calf and grateful for the collaborative partnership that made this birth possible.”