Zuri has had to wait 15 long months to meet her calf, a specimen of the eastern black rhinoceros, a species that is in danger of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Her mother gave birth in broad daylight, which made it easy for the cameras at Chester Zoo (United Kingdom) to capture the incredible moment.
"It is quite unusual for a rhino to give birth during the day, we really did not expect it to happen right in front of us," explains the director of the zoo's Rhino team, Emma Evison, who assures that they have been "privileged" to experience that moment. .
The birth occurred on November 12 at 2:45 p.m. on a bed of soft sand. Everything happened in a "safe" and controlled manner, according to the Chester Zoo, which shared the video of the moment in which Zuri became a mother on its social networks.
“The most important thing now during these first few days is for mama Zuri and her new baby to spend some time bonding and getting to know each other. Until now, the pair have been inseparable and the little one is fed regularly and is already gaining size and weight. She's very curious and full of energy," Evison continues.
The eastern black rhinoceros is listed as a Critically Endangered species by the IUCN, the global authority on the state of nature. According to the zoo in a statement, currently, there is only a record of about six hundred specimens, located mainly in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
"Unfortunately, this is a species that, for more than a century, has been hunted and poached for its horn before being sold in illegal wildlife markets," they point out from this specialized group.
The birth of this calf raises hope for the conservation of the species. And that is the effort of European zoos like Chester, which have been working closely since 1999 for their survival and in close collaboration with African authorities.
"Our efforts to protect this magnificent species extend far beyond the boundaries of the zoo and while it is incredibly positive news that conservation efforts across Africa have led to a small recovery in rhino numbers, giving some respite very necessary, we know there is still a lot of work to do," adds the facility's Animals and Plants director, Mike Jordan.
