Big baby celebrations as Colchester Zoo shows off white rhino calf

A rare white rhino calf has been born at Colchester Zoo.

The healthy female calf was born on January 4th after a pregnancy lasting 16 months and eight days.

Staff said the birth went smoothly and the new calf and her mum Emily are both doing well.

The calf won't be named for a while but the zoo is looking for suitable African suggestions.

Emily became pregnant within 2 months of being reunited with Otto the male White rhino. Otto is the father of her previous calves, Pembe and Kifaru. Pembe was born in 2013 and Kifaru celebrated his 2nd birthday on the 3rd February 2019.

Colchester Zoo has had a number of previous successful births as part of the breeding programme for white rhinos and this new arrival is the 5th calf to be born at the zoo.

Staff say the white rhino calf is feeding well Credit: Colchester Zoo

The zoo says it hasn't weighed the new arrival yet but that white rhino calves can be up to 9 stone.