In an uplifting development, a rare black rhino calf was recently born in an Australian zoo: sparking some hope for the survival of the endangered species.
The new-born is the offspring of a female black rhino named Bakhita at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo in New South Wales last week.
The zoo's director, Steve Hinks, said: 'This is the fourth calf for experienced mother Bakhita, who is the zoo’s most successful black rhino breeding female and also the first female black rhino born here.'
He added that the currently-unnamed calf is also the legacy of Kwanzaa, a male black rhino who sadly passed away last year.
The zoo added that both Bakhita and her calf are doing well and are being left to bond in a special behind-the-scenes enclosure monitored by staff via CCTV.
AW! Check out this newborn black rhino taking her first steps at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, Australia on February 24. Mom was close by as the baby rhino took a few tumbles before getting the hang of walking 😍 pic.twitter.com/xakVrk2ZXU
— News 3 Now / Channel 3000 (@WISCTV_News3) March 3, 2021
Black rhinos are listed as critically endangered, with fewer than 6,000 remaining in the wild.
They are native to many African countries such as Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Although the rhinoceros is referred to as black, its colours actually vary from brown to grey.