Baby rhino arrives just in time for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day was even more special this year after a baby white rhino was born here at Marwell Zoo.

At 6.30am yesterday morning (Sunday), mum Zahra gave birth to a calf.

Animal Team Leader Hoofstock Phil Robbins said: “These early days are incredibly important, and our expert keepers are monitoring mum and baby closely while giving them the calm space they need to bond.

“Encouragingly, the calf has been seen suckling and staying close to mum. It’s still very early days, but things are looking positive so far. We will be able to confirm the sex of the baby once mum and baby are fully settled.”

Zahra, who joined Marwell in 2021, is eight years old. Dad is Jabari, who arrived from Dublin in 2015.

The exciting arrival has been possible thanks to Marwell’s involvement with the European breeding programme, alongside conservation work in the wild, which helps safeguard the future of this species, facing significant threat due to poaching for their horns and habitat loss.

Marwell’s conservation work is world-renowned and teams have worked on rhino conservation projects in Africa, notably as the Marwell Zimbabwe Trust, later to become Dambari, as well as with partners in Kenya.

White rhinos are one of the world’s largest land animals. They have two horns and can live to 40 years-old. At eight-years-old Zahra is the youngest of our four rhinos and is likely to have been pregnant for 16 months.

Zoological Director Dr Will Justice added: “A huge thank you to our dedicated animal care team who support moments like this every day. We’ll share more updates as Zahra and her calf continue to settle in. The Rhino House remains open for visitors, though we ask everyone to help keep the area calm and quiet for Zahra and her calf.”

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