World · Europe · 53 mins ago
Whipsnade Zoo welcomes its 61st white rhino calf
Whipsnade Zoo in England has welcomed a male white rhino calf, born on 1 November to mother Fahari and father Sizzle.
The calf, named Mazinda, is the 61st white rhino born at the zoo since its conservation breeding programme began in 1970.
The programme was set up after southern white rhinos had been reduced to about 20 in South Africa by the late 19th century.
Wild numbers have since recovered to about 17,500 across Africa, but poaching and habitat loss remain threats.
The zoo works with other European conservation zoos to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population.
Mazinda is staying with his mother in the rhino barn, where visitors can see them while they bond.
Whipsnade Zoo has welcomed Mazinda, its 61st white rhino calf since its conservation breeding programme began.
The male calf was born on 1 November to mother Fahari and father Sizzle.
Mazinda weighed an estimated 40kg at birth.
The zoo named him after the first white rhino calf born there, in 1971.
White rhinos still face threats including poaching and habitat loss.
- Who
- Mazinda, a male white rhino calf, was born to Fahari and Sizzle.
- What
- Whipsnade Zoo welcomed its 61st white rhino calf.
- When
- 1 November 2026, at around 4pm.
- Where
- Whipsnade Zoo in the UK.
- Why
- The calf was born as part of the zoo’s conservation breeding programme for the threatened species.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Whipsnade Zoo began a conservation breeding programme after a herd of white rhinos arrived from South Africa.
The first white rhino calf born at the zoo, named Mazinda, arrived.
Fahari gave birth to the male calf Mazinda at around 4pm.
- Calf
- Mazinda, male
- Birth date
- 1 November 2026
- Birth weight
- Estimated 40kg
- Parents
- Fahari and Sizzle
- Zoo calf count
- 61st since 1970
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What people are saying
We're delighted to now welcome a new calf to Whipsnade Zoo, and mum Fahari is proving to be the perfect parent.
The first Mazinda was a trailblazer for her species, being the first white rhino born in Europe.