Pets&Wildlife
DOUBLE DELIGHT West Midland Safari Park has welcomed a new arrival in the shape of a beautiful southern white rhino calf, the second to be born at the park this summer
S
econd-time-mum Keyah gave birth to a male rhino – named Jumani – in June, following a pregnancy of 16 months. The birth is a triumph for West Midland Safari Park, who only six weeks ago celebrated the birth of another southern white rhino, Jambo. The two share a father, and the brothers will grow up together on the park and are likely become the closest of playmates. “We are delighted to welcome another new calf to our crash of southern white rhino,” says WMSP’s head of wildlife Angela Potter. “It’s “Just over wonderful to see Keyah settling into 20,000 wild motherhood – she’s certainly going to be kept busy as her boy finds his feet. southern white “Celebrating another rhino rhino remain in birth here at the park is a fantastic South Africa” achievement, and further showcases the important role we have to play in being a part of the European Endangered Species Programme. Raising awareness of the vital conservation efforts needed to protect all five species of rhino in the wild will always be the driving force behind our work. It’s also the first time we have had two calves born so closely together, so we can’t wait to watch them grow up as a pair.”
DID YOU KNOW? You can see the southern white rhino on the park’s safari drive-through
This latest birth highlights WMSP’s commitment to its breeding programme, which works to create a reserve population of these magnificent animals that are listed as “near threatened” on the IUCN red list. At the last count, just over 20,000 wild southern white rhino remained in South Africa, as a result of threats including poaching and habitat loss.
Meet the rhino
Including Jumani and Jambo’s father, 15-yearold Barney – who himself was born at the park in 2005 – the new calf brings WMSP’s crash of white rhino up to eight. White Jumani takes his first steps in the paddock rhinos are the larger of the two African rhino species and are fairly social animals; in the wild they live in loose groups of up to six. Their skin is grey in colour and not white – in fact, despite the names, it is no different in colour from that of black rhinos!
SALMON SPAWNING SNAPS
A wildlife photographer has managed to capture incredible images of salmon during their spawning season on the Rhug Estate as part of a European river project Perks filmed and photographed salmon on the Rhug Estate to help document the £6.8 million Jack LIFE Dee River project, which aims to restore the river and its surroundings to their natural state.
The Dee is the largest river in north Wales, with a catchment area of over 1,800km2. It’s also one of the most highly regulated rivers in Europe, and along with Llyn Tegid has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The main uses of the River Dee are farming, water abstraction for water supply, tourism and nature conservation. Rhug Estate takes its job as a custodian of the land very seriously. Almost 9km of riverside corridors have been introduced so livestock cannot get to the river’s edge, protecting the waterways and riverbanks and encouraging habitats for wildlife.
September/October 2021 | SHIRE MAGAZINE 87
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27/08/2021 10:16
