Hamilton Zoo white rhino becomes first-time mum

Moesha, a female white rhinoceros who Hamilton Zoo staff were once concerned would never reproduce, has given birth to a baby boy.

The calf, which was born at Hamilton Zoo on 30 April after a 16-month gestation, is the fourth baby rhino to be born at the facility and the sixth to ever be born in New Zealand.

Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen Standley said the new addition is exciting for the facility, especially since staff had resolved themselves to the fact that Moesha may never give birth.

"Moesha arrived at Hamilton Zoo from Kruger National Park in South Africa in October 1999 and while we don't know her exact age, we estimate it to be around 15 years old … Since rhinos are fertile when they are around 6-7 years old, we had very real concerns that she may have missed her chance to be a mum," he said.

"We also monitor our rhino's reproductive cycles so were aware that Moesha had not been in full breeding condition for some time, which further fuelled these concerns."

However Mr Standley said this all changed when, in May 2007, an exchange of adult male white rhinoceroses with Auckland Zoo brought 16-year-old Kruger to Hamilton – resulting in the pregnancy for the first-time parents.

The recent birth is particularly significant for Hamilton Zoo, with its Team Leader of Mammals, Samantha Kudeweh, coordinating the Australasian region's breeding programme for white rhinos. On the verge of extinction in the early 1900s, the species are a prime example of the power of conservation – going from less than 100 animals to over 11,000 in the wild thanks to the protection of habitat and animals.

"The fact that white rhinos are no longer on the endangered species list goes to show just how much of an impact conservation measures can have in ensuring the future of an endangered species. Breeding programmes in zoos are a crucial part of these measures," said Mr Standley.

Moesha and her calf are on display to the public for short periods from this week.