CINCINNATI -- Emi, the rare Sumatran rhinoceros at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, gave birth to a baby boy Thursday.

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Watch The Birth Mom And Baby Following Birth Baby Rhino Slideshow

At 11:23 a.m., the 11-year-old rhino on loan from the Los Angeles Zoo, delivered her calf in the privacy of her stall at the zoo.

The birth is being called one of the most significant in more than a century. Some are saying that the birth will be the turning point for the Sumatran rhino captive breeding program.

Once the calf was born, Emi began licking him and soon after, the calf attempted to stand.

There are only about 300 Sumatran rhinos left in the world, with only 15 in captivity.

The Cincinnati Zoo has two of the rhinos and had been trying to get them to breed. Now there are three rhinos at the zoo.

Nobody attempted to breed the animals in captivity for more than 100 years.

"You can't just go and pick up a book on how to breed Sumatran rhinos and figure out how to do it," research director Terri Roth said in August.

In the weeks prior to the birth, the zoo assigned volunteers who sat in front of monitors all night, watching Emi's sleep patterns. Any information could help breeders in Southeast Asia.

"If we could start reproducing this species in captivity on a regular basis, then we could bulk-up the animal numbers," Roth said.

ChannelCincinnati.com has exclusive cameras inside and outside Emi's pen. Those live pictures that you can see on demand will resume Friday.

Soon, you will have the chance to view live pictures from a third camera, located inside Emi's pen. ChannelCincinnati.com is teaming up with Road Runner, provided by Time Warner Cable, to bring you a steerable live camera which you can control.

If you cannot see any pictures, be sure to check out our Emi Slideshow, which will be updated periodically.