A zoo in Spain announced the first northern white rhinoceros to be born at the facility is male and doing well under his mother’s care.
Bioparc Valencia announced the rhinoceros, born Nov. 4, is nursing and bonding with his mother, Kwanza.
“The mother is recovering perfectly, and the lively calf scampers about with the typical clumsy movements of a baby, offering heartwarming glimpses,” the zoo said in a news release Tuesday.
Zookeepers are following a “non-invasive monitoring protocol” to allow the mother and baby to recover and bond with minimal human intervention.
The mother and baby are spending most of their time indoors, but keepers have allowed them some time in the large outdoor enclosure to promote the calf’s “growth and well-being.”
The baby’s father, Martin, and two other female rhinos, Nombula and Ami, have met the baby, and their interactions were described as “very positive.”
“They approach with the curiosity and interest typical of this new situation, which suggests a natural integration,” the zoo said.
The birth marks an important milestone for the European Conservation Program. Northern white rhinos are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
