Rhino conservation

The arrival of a new baby is nail biting at the best of times, but when it's a rhino calf on the way you can't take any chances.

Staff at Paignton Zoo have had a long and anxious wait since Kingo and Sita mated 15 months ago.

If all goes well this will be the first black rhino to be born at the Devon zoo. At birth the calf could weigh around 40kg.

Nevertheless the captive births are rare events and keepers are taking nothing for granted.

"Sita is a first-time mum, so we are all a little nervous," said Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment.

"We hope that she will give birth successfully and rear the calf herself, but we are ready to step in and hand-rear if we must."

Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Julian Chapman said: "Staff are keeping a close eye on Sita and will react to any changes in behaviour.

"When we get closer to the time there will be some tell-tale signs - her teats may swell and there may be evidence of milk. She may also become hotter along her flanks.

Sita in the outside paddock

"At this stage keepers will put down more bedding and make her space as comfortable as possible."

The rhino house has under-floor heating, so it will be warm whatever the weather. Maintenance staff have modified the paddock gates and enclosure to make sure it is baby rhino proof.

Keepers and the in-house vet team hope to leave Sita to get on with the birth by herself.

Julian Chapman, who has considerable experience with rhinos, explained: “We hope it will all go very smoothly, but there is always a chance that the calf could be rejected by its mother, or it could be still-born.

"We are hoping for the best but we must be prepared for any eventuality."

Paignton Zoo, a registered charity, is one of only four zoos in the UK with black rhinos and supports practical rhino conservation work in Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Parent Rhino Vital Statistics

The parents-to-be, Kingo and Sita, are part of the coordinated European Endangered Species Programme for black rhino.

Kingo (male) is 23 years old and has already fathered four calves. Rhinos live for up to 45 years in zoos, so he's still in his prime. He weighs in at 1.8 tonnes and came to Paignton Zoo in 2003 from Port Lympe Zoo in Kent.

Sita is 16 years old, weighs 1.3 tonnes and is a first time mum. She came from Berlin Zoo in 2002.

Sita will stay with her calf until it is able to look after itself but black rhinos are solitary animals so Kingo lives in an adjacent paddock.