PJ the Rhino’s Big Adventure: More Than Goodbye

by Melanie Lentz-Janney

PJ isn’t just any rhino; he’s Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ beloved rhino.

PJ the Rhino with pumpkin — Source: Central Florida Zoo

A gentle giant with personality to match, PJ stood as a living reminder that conservation matters and every creature has a story.

For years, guests made the trek to Sanford not just to see PJ, but to spend quality time with him.

PJ the Rhino posing at the Zoo — Source: Central Florida Zoo

To watch him splash in his pond, sample his favorite treats, and move with both dignity and grace was a highlight of visiting the Zoo.

Now, he’s about to embark on his next chapter. PJ is relocating to the Buffalo Zoo to join a Species Survival Plan.

He’ll help ensure his kind carries on.

While it’s bittersweet to envision PJ at another Zoo, there’s something deeply inspiring about an Authentic Floridian stepping boldly into wider efforts to protect his disappearing species.

PJ the Rhino Goodbye at Central Florida Zoo — Source: Central Florida Zoo

On September 20th, the Central Florida Zoo invited everyone to a rhino-sized farewell party.

It was a day of events that included keeper talks, enrichment moments, and photo ops to honor PJ’s years at the Zoo.

It was not only a chance to say “until next time,” but to celebrate the impact one rhino has made on so many of us.

For those who love Florida for its wild and authentic beauty, PJ’s journey reminds us that stewardship isn’t seasonal, it’s ongoing.

And though PJ will be far away, his legacy in Sanford remains with every visitor who came for a peek and left with a little more care for the natural world.