PREVIEW

A Welsh farm is celebrating the birth of a critically endangered eastern black rhino calf.

Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire welcomed its second rhino calf - a boy - marking another major milestone in its vital role within the European Endangered Breeding Programme (EEP).

After a 15-month pregnancy, mum Dakima, 12, gave birth to a healthy male calf at 6:34 am on Thursday, November 27. The birth is a monumental achievement for the EEP, as only 39 eastern black rhinos have been born in the UK over the past 25 years. It’s a rare and valuable success in the fight against the species' looming extinction.

Eastern black rhinos are critically endangered, with only around 1,471 remaining in the wild, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss. With only an estimated 109 of these magnificent creatures in zoos across Europe, including the newest addition at Folly Farm, this birth represents a crucial step in the survival of the species.

The calf wasted no time getting on his feet. Just hours after birth, he was already standing, following his mother around the enclosure, and suckling.

Dakima arrived at Folly Farm in May 2017 as part of a European breeding programme and was soon introduced to 14-year-old male Nkosi. The pair formed a strong bond, and Dakima gave birth to their first calf, Glyndŵr, in early 2020 – marking the first rhino calf ever born in Wales. Glyndŵr, named after Folly Farm’s late founder Glyndŵr Williams, has since moved to another zoo to continue the breeding programme.

Rhinos are solitary animals by nature, but when the time was right, Dakima and Nkosi were reunited for a series of planned ‘date nights.’ The pair’s successful mating led to confirmation of Dakima’s pregnancy, with a due date of mid-November 2025. Thanks to specialist lab analysis of Dakima’s stool sample, keepers were able to confirm the exciting news that another calf was on the way.

Conservation Officer Jack Gradidge couldn’t be more thrilled. “It’s always heart-warming to welcome new arrivals through the European Breeding Programme, especially one as significant as this. Dakima’s maternal instincts are as strong as ever, and she’s being wonderfully protective of her new baby – you can already see the strong bond they share.”

This birth is a major moment not just for the zoo but for conservation efforts across Europe. With fewer than 40 eastern black rhinos born in the UK in the past quarter-century, this calf helps bring hope to the future of the species.

Folly Farm’s breeding programme aims to increase the numbers of eastern black rhinos in captivity – and, eventually, in the wild. The zoo also supports conservation projects through its partnership with "Helping Rhinos," a UK-based organisation dedicated to protecting rhinos, including supporting a rhino orphanage in South Africa.

Simon Jones, CEO of Helping Rhinos, praised the farm’s ongoing contributions. “We’re over the moon with this exciting news. Folly Farm’s support plays a vital role in our mission to protect rhinos and care for calves orphaned by poaching.”

The birth of the calf came as a surprise early in the morning. The keepers were notified after spotting the newborn on the security footage, with the tiny calf already moving around happily. Keepers allowed Dakima and her new baby some space to bond, while monitoring them closely to ensure the calf’s health.

“It’s amazing to watch nature unfold,” Jack said. “We try to interfere as little as possible, allowing the bond between mum and baby to develop naturally. While Nkosi will be absent, as male rhinos don’t take part in rearing their offspring in the wild, we’re confident Dakima will continue to care for her calf.”

In the wild, rhino calves stay with their mothers for up to four years. One day, this calf could help bolster the population in the wild, or like his brother Glyndŵr, move to another zoo to contribute to the breeding programme.

Folly Farm’s dedicated rhino team will be keeping a watchful eye on mum and baby in the coming weeks. As Dakima and her new calf continue to grow, this beautiful addition is another step forward in safeguarding the future of eastern black rhinos for generations to come.