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For families across San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country, a familiar safari destination has a very small, by rhinoceros standards, new resident to celebrate.

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has welcomed Twuda, a female southern white rhinoceros calf born Sept. 8 to Gertie and Kutu. The calf weighed an estimated 150 pounds at birth and measured approximately 28 inches tall and 36 inches long, according to the Ranch. She is the third southern white rhino calf born at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in just three years.

The milestone carries significance well beyond the excitement surrounding a new baby animal. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch spent more than 20 years working toward its first successful southern white rhino birth before welcoming that calf in late 2023. Now, two additional births have followed, giving the Ranch what it describes as the foundation for sustained reproductive success.

“Three calves in three years is an extraordinary milestone for our team and for the future of this species,” said Tiffany Soechting, Animal Specialist at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. “Every birth matters, and seeing this kind of continued success is incredibly meaningful. It reflects the care, patience, and commitment of our entire team, and we could not be prouder of what they have accomplished.”

Why Twuda’s Birth Matters for Southern White Rhino Conservation

Southern white rhinos are not quick to reproduce. Pregnancy lasts roughly 15 to 16 months, typically results in a single calf, and females generally have several years between births, making consistent reproduction an important part of maintaining healthy populations under professional care.

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch said Twuda is among fewer than 10 southern white rhino calves publicly documented at U.S. facilities so far in 2026, adding context to the unusual string of three births at the Texas facility.

“A southern white rhino birth is the result of years of attentive care and informed decision-making,” said Dr. Stephen Momberg, Director of Veterinary Care & Research Programs for Save the Giraffes and a wildlife veterinarian who conducts research at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. “The timing, herd dynamics, genetics, nutrition, space, and long-term management all have to work together. Three calves in three years is a meaningful indication that the Ranch has established the conditions needed for sustained reproductive success.”

The births also come as conservation organizations continue to document serious pressure on white rhino populations in Africa. The International Rhino Foundation’s 2026 State of the Rhino report estimates about 15,752 white rhinos remain across 11 African countries, compared with 17,464 at the previous count in 2023. The organization identifies poaching as the primary threat facing the species.

Breeding programs at wildlife facilities cannot replace protection of rhinos in their native habitats, but they can contribute to genetically sustainable populations while supporting research, veterinary knowledge, conservation education and international collaboration.

More Than 40 Years of Wildlife Experiences in the Texas Hill Country

For generations of area families, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has been best known as the place where a weekend drive can suddenly put a zebra, giraffe or antelope surprisingly close to the family vehicle.

The attraction opened in 1984 and has grown into one of the region’s longtime wildlife destinations. Today, the 500-acre Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch near San Antonio is home to more than 500 animals representing more than 40 species. Guests can travel through roughly six miles of Texas Hill Country ranch land during a self-guided drive-thru safari, while guided and private safari experiences offer additional opportunities to learn about the animals and the conservation work surrounding them.

The Ranch is located at 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, north of San Antonio near New Braunfels, making it a popular family day-trip destination for residents throughout the San Antonio area and Central Texas. Its animal population includes reticulated giraffes, southern white rhinos, addax, American bison, zebras, lemurs, cheetahs, antelope and numerous other species from around the world.

Conservation has increasingly become part of that visitor experience. Guided safari tours incorporate information about animal behavior and species conservation, while the Ranch also participates in veterinary collaboration, research and educational initiatives.

The organization already had a notable breeding history before its rhino program reached this latest milestone. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch gained international attention for the birth of twin giraffes in 2013, and its first southern white rhino calf arrived in November 2023 after decades of effort.

Three Rhino Calves Turn a Breakthrough Into a Continuing Story

That first rhino birth represented a long-awaited achievement for the Ranch. Three years later, Twuda’s arrival suggests the story is no longer about a single breakthrough.

For the animal-care team, it is becoming a continuing chapter.

And for families who have driven the safari roads over the years, the births provide another connection between a local Texas Hill Country attraction and a much larger global conservation challenge. A child visiting Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch today may simply remember seeing a young rhino for the first time. Behind that encounter, however, are decades of animal care, research, breeding management and conservation work intended to help ensure future generations can have the same experience.

Twuda now joins that effort as its newest, and at birth roughly 150-pound, ambassador.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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