Rare footage of the birth of critically endangered White Rhino
- 9 months ago
A wildlife park has captured rare footage of the birth of a critically endangered White Rhino.
The new arrival at Cotswold Wildlife Park is another milestone for the species which is under threat.
Keepers say rhino babies are usually born at night and so are often not filmed when they arrive.
But the new calf arrived in the afternoon meaning its birth was caught on camera.
The calf is a milestone for both the European Breeding Programme and for rhino conservation.
Footage shows its first attempt at standing and his reaction to the first time he ventured outside.
The birth happened during 'Rhino Month' - annual Rhino conservation awareness month.
His first visitor was Ruby Wax - who named his mother back in 2010.
A spokesman for the park said: ‘'It's rare to catch rhino births on camera as females usually give birth during the night.
''But keepers luckily were at the park when the birth happened and filmed some incredible footage.''
It is the tenth rhino born at the park in the last ten years.
Reggie Heyworth, managing director said: ''It is so exciting to welcome our tenth rhino calf into the world.
''Both our wonderful female rhinos, Nancy and Ruby, have now had five calves so this latest one, a male, makes it ten calves born here at the Wildlife Park in ten years.
''What joy they have brought to us all, they are just the most charismatic and lovely animals and visitors and staff alike are absolutely entranced by them.
''My father, the founder of the Wildlife Park, died in 2012 just before our first calf was born but I'm sure that he would be absolutely over the moon.''
For 'Rhino Month' the park is auctioning off a 23.75 Karat Gold-Leafed Rhino dropping to raise funds for Tusk.
Simon Cowell recently visited the Park with his family and generously placed the opening bid at £2,500.
It has since been outbid and the current bid stands at £5,050.
https://uk.givergy.com/endangeredfaecesauction/
The new arrival at Cotswold Wildlife Park is another milestone for the species which is under threat.
Keepers say rhino babies are usually born at night and so are often not filmed when they arrive.
But the new calf arrived in the afternoon meaning its birth was caught on camera.
The calf is a milestone for both the European Breeding Programme and for rhino conservation.
Footage shows its first attempt at standing and his reaction to the first time he ventured outside.
The birth happened during 'Rhino Month' - annual Rhino conservation awareness month.
His first visitor was Ruby Wax - who named his mother back in 2010.
A spokesman for the park said: ‘'It's rare to catch rhino births on camera as females usually give birth during the night.
''But keepers luckily were at the park when the birth happened and filmed some incredible footage.''
It is the tenth rhino born at the park in the last ten years.
Reggie Heyworth, managing director said: ''It is so exciting to welcome our tenth rhino calf into the world.
''Both our wonderful female rhinos, Nancy and Ruby, have now had five calves so this latest one, a male, makes it ten calves born here at the Wildlife Park in ten years.
''What joy they have brought to us all, they are just the most charismatic and lovely animals and visitors and staff alike are absolutely entranced by them.
''My father, the founder of the Wildlife Park, died in 2012 just before our first calf was born but I'm sure that he would be absolutely over the moon.''
For 'Rhino Month' the park is auctioning off a 23.75 Karat Gold-Leafed Rhino dropping to raise funds for Tusk.
Simon Cowell recently visited the Park with his family and generously placed the opening bid at £2,500.
It has since been outbid and the current bid stands at £5,050.
https://uk.givergy.com/endangeredfaecesauction/