The Potawatomi Zoo has a new resident drawing attention – a 24-year-old southern white rhinoceros named Frankie.

Frankie arrived at the zoo on April 2 from the Brevard Zoo, an accredited facility within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The move was recommended by the Southern White Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan, which helps manage populations of endangered species in zoos and supports conservation efforts worldwide.

Weighing about 5,200 pounds and standing roughly seven feet tall at the shoulder, Frankie is now part of the zoo’s broader effort to support rhino conservation. By housing a male rhino, the Potawatomi Zoo helps create space at other facilities for breeding programs and research, including artificial insemination.

The zoo will celebrate Frankie’s arrival with a public event, “Franky’s Tacos at the Zoo,” scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Zoo officials say Frankie’s presence also provides visitors with a chance to see a rhinoceros up close while learning about the species and the challenges they face in the wild.

At the start of the 20th century, more than 500,000 rhinos roamed the planet. Today, fewer than 30,000 remain in the wild across Africa and Asia. While southern white rhinos have rebounded from critically endangered status to the least threatened of the rhino species, conservation efforts remain essential due to ongoing threats from poaching and habitat loss.

Organizations, zoos, and governments continue working together to monitor rhino populations, protect herds, and maintain genetically diverse breeding programs, with the long-term goal of reintroducing animals into their native habitats.