Photocall notice: Hat-trick for Whipsnade's rhinos
Wednesday 24 May 2000
PHOTOCALL... PHOTOCALL... PHOTOCALL...
DATE: 25 MAY 2000
PLACE: WHIPSNADE WILD ANIMAL PARK
(MEET AT ESTATE OFFICE)
CONTACT: JO BARFOOT 01582 872171
HAT-TRICK FOR WHIPSNADE'S RHINOS
Whipsnade Wild Animal Park's latest arrivals have an extra special story to tell. Two female white rhino calves have been born at the Park just a couple of weeks apart, making an extraordinary hat-trick for the Park in the last half year. For the first time, keepers knew for sure which rhinos were pregnant - no mean feat with such a large bulky animal - and were able to accurately predict when the births would take place.
New-born calves are perfect miniature versions of their parents - although tiny at only 4% of their mother's weight. They have large ears and feet and wrinkled skin which looks as though it needs some serious growing into! The latest calf - born to Mikumi less than a week ago - is still finding her feet and sticking close to Mum; the older calf is playfully exploring her inside enclosure, making friends with the pigeons there. Their half-sister, Enkeling, was born last September and is mixing happily with the rest of the herd in the large outside paddock. All three youngsters share the same father, Nsiswa, who came to Whipsnade in 1991.
The new arrivals are particularly precious to a species that was once thought to be extinct. The calves have not yet been named, but visitors to Whipsnade Wild Animal Park's Open Evening on 28th June will be able to enter a competition to win the chance to name a baby rhino - and to adopt it for a year! For advanced ticket sales, please telephone 01582 872171.
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