PEOPLE
A zoo in Spain has celebrated the birth of a baby white rhinoceros following a remarkable 491-day gestation, marking a major milestone in an 18-year conservation effort.
BIOPARC Valencia, located on Spain’s eastern coast, announced the arrival through an Instagram post on November 6, noting that the calf was born two days earlier, on November 4.
“On day 491 of gestation, BIOPARC Valencia witnessed the exciting and live birth of its first northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum),” the zoo shared in a translated caption.
The birth is the culmination of nearly two decades of work as part of international efforts to protect and restore the species. According to the zoo, the mother rhino has been giving the newborn her full attention, and the calf is “lively.”
“These first few days are crucial, and it is essential to maintain composure and extreme caution, constantly monitoring the progress of both mother and calf,” BIOPARC noted, adding that the pair will remain in their enclosures until they are ready to integrate with the rest of the herd.
In a follow-up Instagram update, the zoo shared new photos of the two-week-old calf, reporting continued positive development. The young rhino is still exploring the indoor facilities before beginning to venture into the outdoor savanna, where it will gradually join the larger rhino group participating in the international conservation programme.
The baby rhino has not yet been named, but the zoo said it will soon release a shortlist for the public to vote on.
White rhinos are the world’s second-largest land mammals and are found in two regions of Africa, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Despite their name, the animals are actually gray. The term “white rhino” is believed to have originated from the Afrikaans word wyd, meaning “wide,” referring to their broad, square lips — a term early English explorers may have misinterpreted as “white.”
Southern white rhinos were once thought to be extinct in the late 19th century, until a remnant population of fewer than 100 was discovered in South Africa in 1895. Thanks to more than a century of protection, the species is now classified as Near Threatened, with around 18,000 individuals living in protected areas and private reserves, according to WWF.
White rhinos are the only one of the world’s five rhino species that is not considered endangered.
