Update: Monday 5 March Sita had a pretty restless night, which could be a good sign. While no one wishes discomfort upon her, it seems like this could be a move towards an imminent birth. She spent a lot of time walking around her dens with her tail up, she seems to have eaten less and slept little. For Sita it's been a long and solitary wait for the birth. Now, after 15 months, it looks as though her calf is due any day. Originally her keepers expected a birth in January, but Sita clearly wasn't ready. "It's been a long wait for all of us and Sita is keeping us guessing," explained Philip Knowling of Paignton Zoo. "We are still in the time period predicted for the birth, so there's no panic - I'm just sorry we can't be more precise. "The important thing is that Sita is healthy, contented and unconcerned - it's just us human beings who are getting impatient! "Sita is the calmest of all, just getting on with things. Routine is important to her - like many wild animals, being familiar with her surroundings and the pattern of her day relaxes her." When it comes to the birth Sita will pace around and there will be some discomfort - it is a birth after all. However, a rhino calf is small compared to the size of an adult, so the birth is usually straightforward. It should weigh around 40kg when born. Paignton Zoo's vet team has spoken to a large number of zoos and none has ever had any problems with black rhino births. And if they should need any advice, they can call on the rhino experts at the Institute of Zoo & Wildlife Research in Berlin. Milk has appeared in Sita's teats and there are other signs that she is likely to give birth soon. The keepers have now placed straw in her den in preparation for the birth - so hopefully the wait will soon be over! But hold fire before rushing off to the zoo to take a look. Once the calf is born it won't be on show to the public for at least a day or two. "We may have to close the rhino house for a couple of days after the birth but we will want everyone to be able to see the new arrival as soon as possible," said Philip. Until the new arrival is unveiled to the public, the best place to keep watch on mother and baby will be right here on the BBC Devon website. Baby rhino: frequently asked questions: How long is the gestation period? - A black rhino pregnancy is usually 15 months
Does a baby rhino have horns? - No, rhino calves have little stumps where the horn will grow
How big will the baby be? - At birth black rhino calves weigh around 40kg
How long does it take for a rhino to give birth? - It will probably take Sita round two hours to give birth
Will Sita be induced? - No, we are told inducing a rhino is not an option
How will you know when Sita is about to give birth? - The simple answer is we won't know for sure until it happens
Are Sita's keepers worried about how late she is giving birth? - At present the zoo isn't worried but vets are keeping a close eye on her
Will the public be able to see the baby rhino straight away? - No, the baby will need a few days to settle in before making its public debut.
Can a black rhino have more than one calf at a time? - The black rhino usually only has a single calf, twins are very rare
How quickly could Sita have another calf? - A female black rhino mothers can have a calf every 2.5-4 years
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