Zookeepers at Whipsnade Zoo are celebrating the arrival of Mazinda, a male white rhino calf born on November 1st. The birth represents a continuation of a 50-year conservation program that has helped rescue the southern white rhino from the brink of extinction.
Mazinda, weighing an estimated 40kg at birth, is the 61st calf to be born at the zoo as part of its breeding initiative, which began in 1970. At that time, the wild population of southern white rhinos had dwindled to just 20 individuals in South Africa, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss.
The zoo established its conservation program in agreement with the Natal Parks Board in South Africa, establishing a herd at Whipsnade to safeguard the species. The program aimed to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population within European conservation zoos.
The new calf was named Mazinda after the first white rhino born at the zoo in 1971, a year after the initial herd arrived. This naming honors the legacy of that pioneering birth, which was the first of its kind in Europe.
Mark Holden, Hoofstock Team Leader at Whipsnade Zoo, highlighted the zoo's suitability for the program due to its extensive space and conservation breeding expertise. He noted that the original Mazinda was born to a female who was already pregnant upon arrival.
"We're delighted to now welcome a new calf to Whipsnade Zoo, and mum Fahari is proving to be the perfect parent," Holden said. "The little one has stayed close by mum's side in the rhino barn since birth and has been growing stronger and more confident every day."
While the wild population of southern white rhinos has seen significant recovery, estimated now at around 17,500 across Africa, the species still faces threats. Conservation efforts like those at Whipsnade remain crucial for the species' long-term survival.
Mazinda is described as an inquisitive calf, exploring his surroundings and growing into his hooves. Visitors can observe Mazinda and his mother, Fahari, bonding in the zoo's rhino barn.
