STAFF at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating a special new arrival with the birth of a rhino calf.

Six-year-old Ailsa gave birth to a male southern white rhino calf at the Bewdley venue on Good Friday (March 25) following a lengthy 16-month pregnancy.

This is the first baby rhino to be born at the tourist attraction since the baby’s dad Barney, who was born in 2005.

Bosses at the attraction said that the youngster, who is yet to be named, was up on his feet within an hour, demanding attention from his mum.

Despite being just a few days old, the baby already weighs 67.5kg – although adult male rhinos reach weights of around 2,500kg.

Southern white rhino are considered a conservation success story, with this particular subspecies being the most common of all the world’s rhino species. However, rhinos still face a huge threat in the wild due to habitat loss and more commonly, poaching.

Deputy head keeper of Ungulates, Lisa Watkins said: “The calf is absolutely gorgeous and his birth is not only fantastic news for the park, but also for white rhino conservation.

“The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as ‘near threatened’ and with rhinos being poached every day for the trade in illegal rhino horn, we hope that our adorable newcomer will help highlight the very real danger the species still faces.

“The baby hasn’t got horns yet, but these start to develop straight away and can reach almost a metre when fully grown.

“Both mum and baby are doing brilliantly well and Ailsa is providing all the care we would expect, even though she is a first time mum.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago that the calf’s dad Barney was out and about, bouncing around the reserves and I’m sure he will be keeping his eyes on him when he makes his public debut onto the reserves, next month.”

The calf joins the four female and one male southern white rhinos already at the park. Visitors can see the rhinos and other attractions during the four-mile self-drive safari.

For more details visit wmsp.co.uk or call 01299 402114.