A Victorian zoo is celebrating its newest addition after a southern white rhino was born to two of its residents.
The strapping, 60kg male calf was born last Sunday morning at Werribee Open Range Zoo, west of Melbourne, to mother Kipenzi, 11, and father Kifaru, 15.
The birth is a major milestone for the Zoo and breeding efforts for the species in Australasia.
The southern white rhino, native to South Africa, is classified as near threatened with an estimated 10,080 remaining in the wild.
Keepers and vets have been amazed at the bond the calf has formed with its mother, as Kipenzi was hand-reared after her own birth at Werribee in 2013 and had never seen or experienced successful mothering.
Zoo Director Dr Mark Pilgrim said staff were thrilled the calf was going from strength to strength.
“This is an exciting time because the calf is suckling from mum regularly,” Dr Pilgrim said.
“Kipenzi is taking extremely well to motherhood and has been very gentle, attentive and calm.
"She also calls him back if he strays too far.”
In March last year, Kipenzi gave birth to her first calf but it did not survive.
“Vets and keepers closely monitored the birth of this second newborn and were prepared to provide support, if necessary,” Dr Pilgrim said.
“They are both currently homed in a keeper-only area that was specially prepared for the calf’s birth."
Keepers will continue to monitor the calf, before he is introduced to the rhino area and eventually to the Zoo's savannah, and the public.
He will be named in the coming weeks through a voting competition for Zoos Victoria members and donors.
State environment minister Steve Dimopoulos said the birth recognises the extraordinary efforts and resilience of the calf's mother and the dedicated team of keepers and vets in conserving this magnificent species.
“We're delighted to celebrate the birth of a southern white rhino calf at Werribee Open Range Zoo," Mr Dimopoulos said in a statement.
"I encourage families to take advantage of their free entry for kids this school holidays and learn more about the critical work being done to protect these treasured animals into the future."
The southern white rhinoceros faces increasing threats including poaching for the illegal rhino horn trade and habitat destruction and fragmentation due to human infrastructure expansion.
The Australasian breeding program aims to raise awareness of the species' plight, to nurture genetically diverse groups of the species in protected environments, and support fundraising efforts in their native home.
Animals not in their own habitat could be also called on to support declining wild populations, the Zoo said.
