Critically endangered black rhino calf born at Flamingo Land

The as yet unnnamed baby boy was born on Sunday

Author: Karen LiuPublished 27th Oct 2021

Flamingo Land has announced the birth of a critically endangered Eastern black rhinoceros.

The as yet unnamed baby boy was born at 5.25pm on Sunday 24th October to mum Samira and father Magadi. After a 16-month pregnancy the final stages happened very quickly, with zookeepers keeping a watchful eye via a network of cameras.

Head Keeper, Sam DeBelle, said:

"We have waited so long for this baby, both mum and baby are doing incredibly well and I am so proud of Samira and all her keepers."

Flamingo Land owner Gordon Gibb said:

"This is the first time a black rhino has been born in Yorkshire and with only approximately 3,000 black rhinos left in the wild continues our vitally important conservation work at home and abroad.

"In 2019 we released our female Olmoti to Akagera National Park, Rwanda as part of the largest translocation of rhinos from Europe to Africa and we are also in the process of sending our rhino Chanua to be released in Tanzania soon. Who knows one day this baby may follow in the footsteps of his big sisters."

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