Nature conservation officials have finally been able to determine the gender of the baby white rhino that was born at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria two weeks ago. The calf is a male and will be named Alpha.
Rietvlei Nature Reserve discovers a newborn rhino calf:
MMC for Environmental and Agricultural Management in the City of Tshwane, Dana Wannenburg, says rhino names are determined alphabetically, and Alpha is the first to be born since the last name, Zulu, was allocated.
“Currently, Alpha’s mother, India, is keeping him well away from humans. But as we head into the winter months, and with conservation officials running a supplementary feeding programme, young Alpha will become more used to human contact. It will become much easier for the public to see him when they visit the reserve,” adds Wannenburg.
The reserve said last week that Alpha’s birth reflected the success of their Rhino Conservation Programme, which dates back to the 80s.
