Rare newborn black rhino calf takes her first wobbly steps at Dubbo Zoo
- A rare rhino calf has taken her first wobbly steps at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
- The critically endangered black rhino calf was born on Wednesday February 24
- Footage showed the yet-to-be-named calf attempt to balance on her four legs
A rare rhino calf has taken her first wobbly steps under the watchful eye of her mother in adorable footage.
The critically endangered Black Rhino calf was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW, during the early hours of February 24.
The newborn was filmed standing next to her mother Bakhita in the Zoo’s behind-the-scenes calving yard later that day.
Video footage showed the yet-to-be-named calf attempt to balance on her four legs, before falling backwards into the sand.
A rare rhino calf has taken her first wobbly steps under the watchful eye of her mother in adorable footage
The youngster kept trying to remain upright, as her mother watched on.
Once the rhino was able to stay standing, she began to follow Bakhita around the enclosure.
Her front legs acted as a solid base for her slow movements while her back two wobbled nervously.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo 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.’
The mother-daughter duo are being monitored by zookeepers through CCTV to give them space to develop their bond.
‘This calf is especially important as it carries the legacy of our Black Rhino breeding bull, Kwanzaa who sadly passed away in 2020,’ Mr Hinks said.
Video footage showed the yet-to-be-named calf attempt to balance on her four legs, before falling backwards into the sand (pictured)
‘Kwanzaa played a prominent role in the Black Rhino conservation breeding program here in Dubbo, siring four calves, and it is such a great feeling to see his final calf arrive safely.’
Bakhita and her calf will remain behind-the-scenes for the next couple of months before they are moved back to the Black Rhino paddock on the Zoo circuit.
The public will be able to watch the baby’s progress via Taronga TV and social media.
The zoo in central western NSW has been very successful in breeding Black Rhinos with four calves born in the last six years.
Black Rhinos are critically endangered with estimates that there are less than 6000 remaining in the wild.
The critically endangered Black Rhino calf was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW, during the early hours of February 24