Australia Zoo welcomes first baby rhino
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Australia Zoo has announced the birth of its first baby rhino. The female calf, weighing 50-60kg, was born on Tuesday morning at the Queensland attraction.
Manu Ludden, Head of Australia Zoo’s Africa Department, said the new arrival was doing well and had already started feeding from her mother, Caballe.
“Our little Rhino Calf was on the move immediately after being born and she has already had at least three good long feeds,” Ms Ludden said. “She is a really active little girl, and we couldn’t be happier with her progress. Mum is also doing well. She is super relaxed and she seems quite content with her new little calf.”
Caballe has been with Australia Zoo since August 2010 after she travelled from Hamilton Zoo in Auckland. Caballe is a southern white rhinoceros which is listed as an endangered species, with just 20,150 left in the wild. A further 780 are in captivity.
“White rhinos are doing the best of all the rhino species, numbering more than all the other species put together,” Ms Ludden added. “This hasn’t always been the case though, with numbers dropping to less than 100 individuals at the turn of the century, so they are a great success story.”
Australia Zoo is part of a regional co-operative programme, working with other zoos in Australasia to maximise breeding potential and genetic diversity of the white rhino.
This is Cabelle’s fourth calf, and the first rhino to be born at Australia Zoo. The attractions is now offering the public to name her via auction website, eBay. All money raised will go to Australia Zoo Conservation Projects in Africa. Interested parties can Visit australiazoo.com.au for more information.
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