A rare new arrival
After a 15‑month pregnancy, 12‑year‑old mum Dakima gave birth at 6.34am on Thursday 27 November. Within hours, the calf was standing, following his mother around the enclosure and suckling.
With just 1,471 eastern black rhinos left in the wild and only around 109 in zoos across Europe, every birth is a major boost for the species. Only 39 calves have been born in the UK in the past 25 years.
(Image: Folly Farm)
A family success story
Dakima arrived at Folly Farm in 2017 and was paired with 14‑year‑old male Nkosi. Their first calf, Glyndŵr, made history in 2020 as the first rhino ever born in Wales. He has since moved to another zoo to continue the European breeding programme.
Now, baby number two has made Dakima a mum again — and keepers say she’s proving just as protective and nurturing the second time around.
“A monumental event”
Conservation Officer Jack Gradidge said:
“It’s even more special when it’s such a significant animal and one whose wild cousins are under threat. Dakima was a great mum with Glyn and it’s wonderful to see those instincts again. This is such a monumental event for all the staff here.”
Zoo staff discovered the calf thanks to security cameras when they arrived for work. “The keeper opened up the rhino house and the first thing he saw was the footage of a tiny newborn happily padding about,” Jack explained.
(Image: Folly Farm)
Helping Rhinos partnership
Folly Farm supports conservation projects across the globe, including a new partnership with UK charity Helping Rhinos, which runs a rhino orphanage in South Africa.
CEO Simon Jones said:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome news of this beautiful eastern black rhino calf at Folly Farm. We are grateful for their support of Helping Rhinos’ efforts, including the care of young calves orphaned by poaching.”
What’s next for the calf
Keepers will monitor mum and baby closely in the coming weeks. Visitors shouldn’t expect to see the calf immediately, but Folly Farm will share updates on social media.
In the wild, calves stay with their mothers for up to four years. After that, this youngster could one day be released into the wild to help boost numbers — or move to another zoo to continue the breeding programme, just like his brother.
(Image: Folly farm)
(Image: Folly Farm)
Conservation commitment
Folly Farm’s £500,000 Kifaru Reserve opened ten years ago and has become a cornerstone of the zoo’s conservation work. The arrival of a second rhino calf underlines its role in safeguarding one of the world’s most endangered animals.
“It’s exciting to be playing our part in helping to safeguard these amazing animals for future generations,” Jack Gradidge added.
