Rough start to life for Hamilton Zoo white rhinoceros

A baby white rhinoceros recently born at Hamilton Zoo had a rough start to life but is now making good progress.

The male calf was born at the zoo in the early hours of Friday, 12 March to first-time mum Kito (9-years-old) and father Kruger (21-years-old). Born with blood blisters in his eyes, the calf had almost zero vision at birth.

Hamilton Zoo acting director Samantha Kudeweh said the calf’s eye problem caused further difficulties when it came to feeding.

“In the end staff had to milk Kito in order to bottle-feed the calf, as his lack of vision and Kito’s inexperience as a mother meant they weren’t having any success with suckling,” said Mrs Kudeweh.

“However since then the calf’s eyesight has gradually improved and with support from staff a breakthrough came five days after the birth when the calf found the right spot and began to suckle.

“We hope the calf’s eyesight will continue to improve in the coming weeks.”

The calf, which is yet to be named, is the fifth baby rhino to be born at the facility and the seventh to ever be born in New Zealand. Last April a female white rhino calf named Kifaru was born at Hamilton Zoo to first-time mum Moesha.

Mrs Kudeweh, who coordinates the Australasian region's breeding programme for white rhinos, said the fact that Hamilton Zoo has welcomed white rhino calves two years in a row is a major coup for the facility.

“In the early 1900s white rhinos were on the verge of extinction however thanks to the protection of habitat and animals this species has gone from less than 100 animals to over 17,000 in the wild, and they are no longer on the endangered species list,” she said.

“This highlights just how much of an impact conservation measures can have in ensuring the future of an endangered species and zoo breeding programmes play an important part in these measures.”