A baby white rhino has been born at a Scots zoo.
Blair Drummond Safari Park shared the delightful news of the calf's birth today after she entered the world at 11.30am yesterday. The infant rhinoceros is the sixth to be born at the park to mother Dot, and father Graham - who are both now 22-years-old.
Keepers at the Stirling enclosure say mum and baby are both doing well.
Operations Manager Dave Warren said: “The birth was very straightforward, from her waters breaking to delivering the calf took less than two hours, we were slightly anxious as she came back legs first but there were no complications. It was such a privilege to be on hand to witness the birth.
"All our keepers at Blair Drummond are fantastic, and the large mammal team should be unbelievably proud of their achievements. They provided everything for Dot, leaving me with the fortunate job of taking photographs of our lovable new calf.”
Dot will nurse her baby for up to two years and may choose to stay inside during this period. For the first two to three weeks of the unnamed calf's life, mum and baby will be kept separate from other female rhinos, with the calf introduced to dad Graham next spring.
This is to ensure that everyone gets to know each other gradually and the calf is accepted fully by the group.
Southern white rhinos currently are classed as 'near threatened' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of endangered species. The mammals were brought back through the brink of extinction almost 100 years ago from conservation efforts.
Large mammal keeper Shonagh Bell said: "We’re delighted to welcome the latest addition to our family. Dot is proving to be a great mum once more, and the baby is already up and about.
"We are so proud of the work we do to safeguard the future of this iconic species and adding another little one to their number feels amazing."
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