PEORIA, Ill. -- Here's something we don't see every day; happy rhinos in the Illinois winter.
Gertie the Groundhog isn't the only member of the animal kingdom seeing early signs of spring.
Peoria Zoo director Yvonne Strode says the rhinos in the Africa exhibit have been outdoors for half of January and February.
Just like our weather, rhinos in the winter aren't very common.
"Normally their cut off temperatures are about forty, so they are loving it," Strode says. "It's a little muddy. The ground hasn't frozen up for us real well so they are caked with mud, loving it, having some sparring fights, pushing each other around in the mud and having a great time."
Strode says the weather has also brought about six times as many people to the zoo compared to last January.
This is the last week visitors can enjoy a trip to the Peoria Zoo free of charge.
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