Zoo celebrates birth of its 61st southern white rhino calf

By Dean Murray

A British zoo is celebrating the birth of a southern white rhino.

Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire has welcomed its 61st southern white rhino calf since a vital conservation program for the species began in 1970.

The male was born on Nov. 1 to mother Fahari and father Sizzle, weighing an estimated 40 kilograms — 11 times heavier than the average human baby.

The new arrival has been named Mazinda by zookeepers, in tribute to the first-ever southern white rhino calf born in Europe, at Whipsnade Zoo in 1971.

In 1970, a herd of white rhinos arrived at the conservation zoo from South Africa, following an agreement with the Natal Parks Board to safeguard the threatened species through a carefully managed European conservation breeding program.

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Zoo celebrates birth of its 61st southern white rhino calf

Mark Holden, hoofstock team leader at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “Whipsnade’s wide-open space and expertise in conservation breeding made it the ideal place to establish the program.

“Unbeknownst to keepers at the time, one of the females was already pregnant, and on June 24, 1971, she gave birth to the original Mazinda — the first white rhino calf born in Europe.

“We’re delighted to now welcome a new calf to Whipsnade Zoo, and mom Fahari is proving to be the perfect parent. The little one has stayed close by mom’s side in the rhino barn since birth and has been growing stronger and more confident every day.”

Southern white rhinos were once on the brink of extinction, with their wild population reduced to around 20 individuals in South Africa by the late 19th century.

Although numbers have recovered significantly, white rhinos continue to face threats including poaching and habitat loss, with the latest estimates placing the wild population at around 17,500 across Africa.

Holden added: “The first Mazinda was a trailblazer for her species, being the first white rhino born in Europe. Now, more than 50 years later, as ZSL, the conservation charity which runs Whipsnade Zoo, celebrates its 200th anniversary year, we’re honoring this important birth by naming the calf in recognition of a significant part of Whipsnade’s conservation legacy.”