Southern White Rhino calf born at Monarto Safari Park
It’s a girl! Monarto Safari Park is celebrating the safe arrival of an incredibly cute newborn rhino calf.
Mum Umqali gave birth to the youngster on Wednesday at 7.10pm, captured on CCTV cameras. The young calf spent the night with mum before keepers got to see her at first light and she has already captured their hearts.
Monarto Safari Park are so happy that she has arrived safely and so far all the signs are very positive. She is standing well, feeding and both mother and calf appear calm and relaxed. The young rhino is absolutely gorgeous and, like all little rhinos, looks like she has a lot of growing to do to catch up with her large ears and feet.
The newborn calf is the seventh born to Umqali. The pair are currently in the Boma area but eagle-eyed visitors might catch a glimpse of the calf from the fencing area. The Park reopened to the public last month with all entry tickets to be pre-booked.
Monarto Safari Park Director Peter Clark said the newborn calf was a significant arrival for a species which is threatened with extinction, adding that the calf would play an important role in Zoos SA’s efforts to boost its insurance population.
A little Southern White Rhinoceros is a big reason for celebration. Nearly ten thousand animals have been lost to poaching in the wild in just the last 10 years with numbers surviving now thought to be less than 15,000.
Zoos SA is working with The Australian Rhino Project and other partners to bring a rhino sanctuary to life at Monarto Safari Park. The project will see more Southern White Rhinos relocated from Africa to Monarto Safari Park in 2022. This calf will play her part in helping to ensure the survival of White rhinos by boosting the numbers of animals held safely in Australia and New Zealand.
Monarto Safari Park is home to six Southern White Rhinos – two males, three females and the newest addition – all of whom are proudly supported by Beach Energy.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Monarto Safari Park website.
What: Southern White Rhino calf born at Monarto Safari Park
When: Born Wednesday 22 July 2020
Where: Monarto Safari Park | Old Princes Hwy, Monarto South
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: Photo credit Geoff Brooks via Monarto Safari Park
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