Interesting Conversation

We are members of the Cincinnati Zoo. Over the weekend we received their "Wildlife Explorer" publication through the mail. The main story involved a pregnant Indian Rhinoceros named Nikki.

Harper and I were looking at the rhino pictures, and I told her that there was a baby in the rhino's tummy. We also looked at the ultrasound photo, but try explaining that to a two-year-old. The pregnant rhinoceros discussion led to a rather hilarious question and answer session.

We talked about the baby in the rhino's tummy and Harper asked, "Why did it eat a baby?!"

I explained that the rhino didn't eat a baby, but was growing the baby in her tummy, and when the baby was ready it would be born and there would be a baby rhinoceros.

Harper thought for a few moments and asked, "Where does the baby come out? From the mouth?"

I explained that no, the baby doesn't come out of the mouth, and made a slightly vague reference to the general area from which the baby would appear.

Harper thought for a few more moments and asked, "Does it come out in the toilet?"


After some stifled laughter, I told her that an animal doctor would probably be there to help with the baby and that it would not be born in the toilet. I figured we could wait for another day to discuss the fact that rhinos don't exactly make use of toilets anyway.

(Photos, totally unrelated to written content, courtesy of Mugga, from her late July visit.)