Twelve tiny hooves met grass for the first time this week, as spring sunshine and warmer weather meant Whipsnade Zoo’s three-month-old southern white rhino calf and two four-month-old reticulated giraffe calves could explore their grassy paddocks at the UK’s largest zoo.
Born on 31st December to mum Jaseera, the newest addition to the conservation zoo’s ‘crash’ of ten Southern white rhinos, Mick, was a little tentative about getting his feet muddy at first. Named after a long-serving member of staff who has since retired, Mick was slowly coaxed onto the grass by mum, and was soon racing around the paddock by her side.
Meanwhile, reticulated giraffe siblings Leoni and Duke – born just three weeks apart in December – were seen galloping around their grassy paddock, kicking up grass and inquisitively investigating everything they came across.
Connor Corrigan, team leader of large hoofstock at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “Just like in the wild, our three new arrivals have spent their first few months staying very close to mum; but each day, they are getting more confident and curious about the world around them.
“We’ve been waiting for a warm and dry day to let the trio into the great outdoors for the first time. While they have plenty of space in their cosy indoor dens, it’s been great to see them exploring further.
“As the spring sun continues to shine, these three little ones will be racing around their new stomping grounds just in time for Easter.”
With just 10,000 southern white rhinos and 11,000 reticulated giraffes left in the wild, all three newborns will be taking big steps for their species by joining the conservation breeding programmes for their species, which ensure a genetically diverse and healthy back up population thrives in conservation zoos like Whipsnade.
Connor continued: “The trio are not only important additions to the conservation breeding programmes for their threatened species; they’re great ambassadors, helping us to inspire future conservationists at Whipsnade by educating people about the threats rhinos and giraffes face in the wild, such as poaching, habitat loss, and climate change – and what actions they can do to help.”
To find out more, visit: www.whipsnadezoo.org
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