Flying a rhinoceros from Auckland Zoo to Australia!

“An absolute star” is how our Ungulates Keeper Jess described rhino Nyah who travelled across the Tasman in April 2026, to her new home at Australia’s Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Nyah (now sexually mature) has valuable genetics that make her extremely important to the Australasian ZAA (Zoo Aquarium Association) regional breeding and advocacy programme for Southern white rhinoceros.

Now five years old, Nyah was the first offspring of parents Jamila and Zambezi. Her birth in 2020 was particularly special, as it was the first time in 20 years that a rhino had been born at the Zoo. This was soon followed by the births of younger sister Amali in 2022 and brother Zuka in 2024.

Crate-training sessions and months of preparation

Accompanied on her journey by Jess and our senior vet Adam, Nyah was transported in a purpose-built travel crate via road and a commercial aircraft on Wednesday – in total a 12-hour trip. Many months of planning and preparation went into this mega move including regular crate-training sessions with Nyah to achieve her feeling super safe and comfortable in it.

“By nature, Nyah is a very calm, confident rhino, but she really blew us away with just how well she travelled. Her crate was located in the hold of the plane, and Adam and I were able to check on her several times throughout the trip. By the end of the flight, she’d chopped through all her in-flight (hay and lucerne) treats!” says Jess.

Once at Werribee, Nyah also took coming out of her crate in her stride and moving about her inside and outdoor quarantine areas.

Nyah is introduced to the lower savannah at Werribee

Werribee Open Range Zoo were pleased to recently welcome Nyah to the lower savannah area, after completing her quarantine period, where she met female rhinos Sisi and Letaba.

“Nyah, she's very playful and she has lots of energy. She's been introduced to other rhinos. There's been a lot of horn touching and a lot of smelling, and she's getting to meet all the other species that are down there as well,” explains Werribee Zoo keeper Resistance Manyepera.

“She was playfully chasing the keeper utes, buses and even the ostriches. Her tail was up in the air as she explored her new surroundings, smelling the different scents left by the other rhinos, giraffes and zebras. It was incredible to see her thriving after such a long journey.”

Over the coming weeks, Nyah will be gradually introduced to male rhino Umgana, with keepers hopeful the pair will form a successful breeding match. Stay tuned to Werribee Zoo’s social media and website for more info.