Whipsnade Zoo Welcomes 61st Southern White Rhino Calf

The calf, born to mother Fahari and father Sizzle, weighed an estimated 40 kilograms, or about 88 pounds. Zookeepers say he has stayed close to his mother in the rhino barn and is growing stronger and more confident.

Mazinda’s name recalls the first Southern white rhino born in Europe. That calf was born at Whipsnade on June 24, 1971, after a herd arrived from South Africa the previous year under an agreement with the Natal Parks Board.

The zoo’s Hoofstock Team Leader, Mark Holden, said Whipsnade’s open space and conservation-breeding expertise made it a suitable site for the program. He said Fahari was caring well for the newborn, and described the original Mazinda as a trailblazer for the species.

Southern white rhinos had dwindled to roughly 20 individuals in South Africa by the end of the 1800s. Their numbers have since recovered, but poaching and habitat loss remain threats. The wild population is estimated at about 17,500 across Africa.

Whipsnade, run by conservation charity ZSL, works with other European conservation zoos to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse backup population. Visitors can see Mazinda with Fahari in the rhino barn while they continue bonding. ZSL is marking its 200th anniversary in 2026, and the calf’s name recognizes the zoo’s conservation history.