West Midland Safari Park Introduce Baby White Rhino

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: June 6, 2021 11:45 pm

West Midland Safari Park announces the arrival of a new white rhino calf.

Photo Credit: West Midland Safari Park

West Midland Safari Park have celebrated the birth of a southern white rhinoceros calf on Monday May 24th 2021. This is the fourth southern white rhinoceros calf to have been born in the past 5 years.

Third time mother Alisa gave birth to her calf, a male following the 16 month pregnancy.

Recently under the watchful eye of mom keepers were able to complete a health check on the calf. This confirmed his weight at 74kg (11 and a half stone).

Born on Monday 24th May to mum Ailsa, the calf is settling in well.

Photo Credit: West Midland Safari Park

West Midland Safari Park last welcomed a southern white rhinoceros in 2018 when male Granville was born. This new calf will soon join his big brother out in the reserve.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome a new white rhino calf. He is a very strong boy and has been growing in confidence settling in well since his birth last week. This is Ailsa’s third time as a mother, and as expected she’s been wonderful – we are very proud of her.”

“With each rhino birth we have here at the Park, it’s a fantastic achievement for the European Endangered Species programme. All five species of rhino are decreasing in numbers, and we hope that this birth can continue in helping to bring more attention to the plight of rhino species in the wild.”

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Keepers are yet to determine a name for the baby rhino. Keepers will develop a short list of names starting with J and then ask the public to help narrow it down. All animals born at the park in 2021 are being given names starting with J.

The youngster has already taken his first steps out in to the paddock and will this week join the other rhino in the Safari Drive-through.

With the arrival of this calf there are now 7 southern white rhino at West Midland Safari Park.

The Park hopes that this birth will continue to highlight the importance of conservation efforts to increase this endangered species’ numbers.

Photo Credit: West Midland Safari Park

Southern white rhino are the larger of the two rhino species found in Africa. They are social in the wild forming groups with up to six individuals.

All five species of rhino are suffering from the threats of habitat loss and poaching. West Midland Safari Park work as part of a breeding program for this species which is listed as near threatened. At the last count 20,000 of these rhinos remained in the wild.