A male greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) has been born at Basel Zoo in Switzerland, marking another addition to the population of this threatened species maintained under human care.
The calf, named Xshama, was born shortly after midnight on Thursday, 5 November 2026.
His mother, nine-year-old Shakti, gave birth following a gestation period of 489 days, approximately sixteen months. According to Basel Zoo, the birth proceeded calmly and both mother and calf are doing well. Xshama is Shakti’s second offspring. Her first calf, Tican, was born in 2022. His father is Puri, an eleven-year-old male who has become a father for the first time.
The birth is particularly significant within the conservation framework for the greater one-horned rhinoceros, a species classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Xshama spends his first days with his mother
During the first days following the birth, Shakti and Xshama are staying together in Basel Zoo’s indoor facilities, where they can spend this early period in a quiet environment.
This arrangement reflects the natural behaviour of greater one-horned rhinoceroses, which are generally solitary animals.
Females caring for their offspring are an important exception, maintaining a close relationship with their calves during the early stages of development.
At this stage, it is largely the calf that determines the daily routine.
Xshama decides when to nurse, rest or explore his surroundings, while his mother follows him and intervenes mainly when she perceives a potential threat.
This behaviour allows the calf to gradually develop independence while continuing to benefit from maternal protection and care.
Greater one-horned rhinoceroses are classified as Vulnerable
The greater one-horned rhinoceros, also known as the Indian rhinoceros, is one of Asia’s rhinoceros species.
Its scientific name, Rhinoceros unicornis, refers to its single horn, while one of its most distinctive physical characteristics is its thick skin, which forms large folds resembling armour.
The species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, one of the three categories identifying species threatened with extinction.
Its long-term conservation requires efforts to protect wild populations and their natural habitats, alongside coordinated management of individuals maintained in zoological institutions.
In this context, Xshama’s birth represents a new addition to the greater one-horned rhinoceros population managed under human care through international conservation programmes.
Basel Zoo’s role in the European conservation programme
Basel Zoo has played an important international role in the management of greater one-horned rhinoceroses for several decades.
Since 1972, the institution has maintained the species’ international studbook, a genealogical record documenting individuals in participating zoological institutions.
This resource supports population monitoring and provides essential information for coordinated breeding management.
Since 1990, Basel Zoo has also coordinated the European Ex-situ Programme (EEP) for the greater one-horned rhinoceros, within the framework of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
The programme aims to maintain a genetically diverse and demographically sustainable population through coordinated management and breeding recommendations.
Xshama is also part of this international programme, which supports the long-term conservation of the species through cooperation among zoological institutions.
Seventy years since the world’s first zoo birth
Xshama’s arrival coincides with a significant anniversary for Basel Zoo.
In 1956, a male named Rudra was born at the Swiss institution, becoming the world’s first greater one-horned rhinoceros born in a zoo.
At the time, the birth was considered an exceptional achievement in the management and reproduction of the species under human care.
Since then, Basel Zoo has continued working with greater one-horned rhinoceroses, contributing to the development of expertise in their management and reproduction.
With Xshama’s arrival, the total number of greater one-horned rhinoceroses born at the zoo has reached 38.
The seventieth anniversary therefore highlights a long-term commitment that has evolved from the first successful birth in 1956 to the international coordination of the species’ conservation breeding programme.
A new birth supporting long-term conservation
For now, Xshama continues to spend his first days with his mother Shakti in Basel Zoo’s indoor facilities.
His birth represents another addition to the population managed through the European conservation programme and reflects the Swiss zoo’s long-standing experience with the species.
Seventy years after Rudra’s historic birth, Xshama’s arrival highlights the continuity of conservation efforts combining reproductive management, international cooperation and the long-term protection of a threatened species.
