Helen, a 30-year-old white rhino, wears a health machine on her proper entrance leg as she walks round on the savanna at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom theme park, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The objective of the health machine is to assemble information on the variety of steps she takes every day, whether or not she is strolling, working or napping, and which a part of the man-made savanna she favors essentially the most. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) — Now right here’s one thing you don’t hear about each day.
Someone new is becoming a member of the ranks of health fans who monitor the variety of steps they take every day with Fitbits and different health monitoring gadgets. Only Helen isn’t human – she’s a 30-year-old white rhino at Walt Disney World.
READ MORE: ‘Toughest Job Of My Life’: Potential Jurors Questioned In Second Phase Of Jury Selection Process For Parkland School Shooter Nikolas Cruz Penalty Trial
Helen went out onto the savanna on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction at Animal Kingdom on Monday carrying a health machine all-day.
The objective is to assemble information on the variety of steps she takes every day, whether or not she is strolling, working or napping, and which a part of the man-made savanna she favors essentially the most. The machine, a couple of foot in diameter, has an accelerometer and a GPS tracker and it’s fitted round her ankle.
The information it produces will likely be shared with greater than two dozen different establishments collaborating in a big analysis undertaking finding out the perfect methods to take care of rhinos at services, stated Scott Terrell, a veterinarian who’s director of Animal & Science Operations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.
READ MORE: Miami Weather: Mostly Sunny Morning, Spotty Afternoon Storms In The Forecast
“By doing this research and using this technology, we can really focus in on the physical fitness of the rhinos as a component of their health and well being,” Terrell stated.
The tracker consists of a belt with a small pouch with electronics hooked up to it. Her caretakers had been attempting to get Helen accustomed to the machine by having her put on it for a restricted period of time after which extending that point.
If Helen continues to seem comfy carrying the machine, which will likely be taken off at night time, ultimately two-thirds of the 9 white rhinos at Animal Kingdom will likely be carrying the gadgets out on the savanna.
Around 27,000 rhinos stay within the wild, primarily at nationwide parks and reserves. Three species — black, Javan, and Sumatran — are critically endangered because of poaching, in keeping with the World Wildlife Fund.
MORE NEWS: Man’s Remains Found In Shallow Grave Behind Miami Gardens Home
(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
