Black rhino raised in North Yorkshire gives birth to baby calf in the wild
Olmoti the rhinoceros was moved from Flamingo Land to Rwanda in 2019
Last updated 20th Jul 2024
A black rhino that was raised in a North Yorkshire zoo before being released into the wild has given birth to a baby calf.
The female black rhinoceros, named Olmoti, was confirmed to have moved to have given birth to the young animal, with estimates showing the baby is around three months old.
As well as this, the father of the calf has been confirmed to be Mandela, a male black rhino who - alongside Olmoti - was transferred from the Flamingo Land resort in Malton to the African nation.
Mandela and Olmoti were one of five rhinos that were transferred in 2019 from zoos across Europe to Rwanda in co-operation with the country's Development Board.
Since being transferred to the Akagera National Park, the group of rhinos have been able to survive in the wild as they adapt to their new surroundings.
Speaking on the news, Regional Conservation Manager for the organisation African Parks, Drew Bantlin said that conservationists were thrilled when they found the calf.
"Olmoti has had her calf and both are doing well," he said. "The team has seen Olmoti and the calf twice this week and report they continue to do well, with the calf reaching three months old."
Olmoti spent four years at Flamingo Land, together with mother Samira, arriving when she was nine months old.
As well as Olmoti's success in birthing a baby, Samira also gave birth to another calf in 2021 - making her the first black rhinoceros to be born at Flamingo Land.
The black rhinoceros has been deemed as a "critically endangered" species, with over 6,000 left in the wild.
Rhinos are often hunted for their horns, which sell on the black market for thousands of pounds, as well as being used for medicinal purposes.