Chester Zoo celebrated a momentous occasion as the birth of a new eastern black rhino calf unfolded in broad daylight, providing a rare and exhilarating spectacle for the zookeepers. The joyful event occurred when mother Zuri gave birth, allowing the staff to record the unique moment, a remarkable deviation from the typical nocturnal births observed in rhinos.
Rhino experts expressed their excitement at the unusual daytime birth, emphasizing that such occurrences are infrequent in the animal kingdom. The birth took place at 2:45 p.m. and was meticulously documented by the zoo staff, who had been eagerly awaiting the arrival after a 15-month pregnancy.
The eastern black rhino, a subspecies of the black rhinoceros, holds a precarious status as it is classified as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). With fewer than 600 individuals remaining in the wild, primarily distributed across Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, every birth is a significant contribution to the survival of the species.
Conservationists are optimistic about the impact of this health calf on global efforts to prevent the eastern black rhino from teetering on the brink of extinction. Each new addition to the population offers hope for the continued existence of these majestic creatures and serves as a beacon for conservation initiatives worldwide.
The zoo’s rhino team manager, Emma Evison, said, “We’d been eagerly awaiting this birth for 15 long months and, as it’s quite unusual for a rhino to give birth in daylight hours, we really didn’t expect it to happen right in front of us as we were going about our day.”
“To be able to witness the calf safely entering the world, in front of our very own eyes, was just the most incredible privilege. She’s very inquisitive and full of energy, which is just brilliant to see,” continued Evison.
She added, “This precious newborn’s arrival is another positive step in safeguarding the species, which is what the endangered species breeding program in European conservation zoos that we’re a leading part of is striving to do.” She also said that ‘a group of black rhinos born and bred in the program have already been relocated to protected areas in Africa.’
Chester Zoo has been actively involved in various rhino conservation efforts, extending beyond the successful birth of the new calf. The institution has implemented a unique approach to rhino pairing, aiming to enhance the prospects of successful mating. This innovative strategy underscores the zoo’s commitment to not only supporting existing rhino populations but also actively contributing to the growth and sustainability of these endangered species.
“We’re home to the UK’s only zoo-based animal endocrine lab where we’ve developed the skills and techniques to track rhino hormones by closely analyzing their dung,” said Mike Jordan, director of animals and plants at the Chester Zoo.
“This has helped us to massively improve the chances of a successful mating and further increase numbers of this Critically Endangered species.”
“The technology is so precise that we’re now transferring it to a specialist lab that we’ve helped to create in Kenya which is helping rangers and vets there to boost the wild population,” he said.
See the incredible video of Zuri giving birth to her calf below.
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