A black rhino raised in a North Yorkshire zoo has given birth to a calf after being released in Rwanda.
Olmoti, an eastern black rhino, arrived at Flamingo Land in 2015 with her mother Samira.
In 2019, Olmoti was transferred to Akagera National Park in Central Africa as part of a collaboration between Rwanda and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Drew Bantlin, Regional Conservation Manager for African Parks, confirmed that Olmoti recently gave birth to her calf, adding: “The team has seen Olmoti and the calf twice this week and report they are continuing to do well.”
The calf’s father is Mandela, who along with Olmoti was one of five black rhinos transferred through EAZA, Flamingo Land said.
A photo of the mother and her baby was taken during an air patrol. They were also captured on camera in the national park.
Breeding programs are being conducted throughout Europe to increase the number of black rhinos, which are listed as critically endangered by the World Wildlife Fund.
The plans have proven to be so successful that 10% of the world’s total population lives in European zooscausing some animals to be sent back to their original home.
Olmoti came to Flamingo Land from a zoo in Zurich at nine months old and was later moved from North Yorkshire to the Czech Republic.
In 2021, Olmoti’s mother gave birth to a male named Jabali, the first black rhino to be born at Flamingo Land.
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