The black rhinoceros tops the world’s list of critically endangered species, according to the Red Data List. The calf's parents were received from Japan under an animal exchange programe in 2007 for which Sri Lanka presented two elephants.
Due to its critically endangered status Rhinos are rarely exchanged by countries and rigid rules and regulations are imposed.
This exchange program was on two notable animal species that is listed in ‘Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’ (CITES).