CCTV camera’s capture ‘incredibly rare’ Eastern black rhino calf being have born at Chester Zoo

Two incredibly rare Eastern black rhino calves have been born in a week at Chester Zoo, boosting global numbers of the critically endangered species.

Both calves were delivered safely onto soft sand following pregnancies lasting around 15 months.

Incredible CCTV footage shows the birth and adorable wobbly steps of the first calf, with the youngster getting to its feet only minutes later.

The first of the precious pair was born to mum Kitani (20) on Monday 19 June with the second arriving exactly one week later (Monday 26 June) to 10-year-old Zuri.

The new arrivals take the number of Eastern black rhino at the zoo to 10 and mark important success stories in an acclaimed breeding programme for the highly threatened species.

It is believed that less than 650 now remain across Africa and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the animals as critically endangered in the wild.

Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals, said:

These two births are a magnificent boost to the endangered species breeding programme and offer new hope for these wonderful animals. Eastern black rhinos are one of the world’s most high profile species, teetering on the brink of extinction in the wild. We cannot underestimate how important these animals are to the future of their species.

Kitani has bonded well with her calf during these important early days and is doing a very good job so far, as is Zuri who is also an experienced mum. The whole team is overjoyed and we now hope that these little ones help create more awareness of the plight of their cousins in the wild.

A huge surge in illegal poaching, driven by a global increase in demand for rhino horn to supply the traditional Asian medicine market, has resulted in around 95% of rhinos being wiped out since the turn of the 20th century.

The issue is being driven by the street value of rhino horn, which is currently changing hands for more per gram than both gold and cocaine, although modern science has already proven it to be completely useless for medicinal purposes as it’s made from keratin – the same material as human hair and nails.

The in-depth specialist knowledge developed by our keeping and science teams running the rhino breeding programme is being used right now in Africa to boost conservation efforts in the field.

Mike Jordan, Chester Zoo Collections Director, added:

It’s superb to see the new calves taking their first steps; as we consider that each and every rhino calf is so important to the future of the species. We are one of a number of conservation organisations working in Africa – including Save the Rhino International and the International Rhino Foundation – to ensure the long-term survival of both black and white rhinoceros in the wild.

Alongside that, it’s vitally important to have a healthy breeding programme in zoos to maintain a genetically viable safeguarded population which is helping to develop the husbandry and scientific expertise that our teams can transfer to the wild. Conservation is critical, which is why these youngsters are absolutely vital.