Surprise Second White Rhino Calf Born At Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Wildlife Park Delighted At Surprise Arrival Of Second Rhino Calf In One Year
Recently, Cotswold Wildlife Park had a rather unexpected arrival. White Rhino Ruby gave birth to an adorable female calf. Keepers knew Ruby was pregnant, but the actual birth came as a bit of a surprise and a little earlier than expected.
The newborn is the thirteenth Rhino born at the collection in the last twelve years. The calf’s mother was named after writer, comedienne and long-time friend of the Park, Ruby Wax, shortly after arriving from South Africa in 2009. The new addition is her sixth calf with breeding male Monty.
Mo The Rhino Calf Takes Her First Wobbly Steps | Cotswold Wildlife Park
It has been a remarkable year for the Rhino family. Recently, White Rhino Nancy gave birth to a male calf named Markus. Births in captivity are extremely rare and at the time he was the only White Rhino born in the UK in 2025. Ruby’s new arrival means that Cotswold Wildlife Park has successfully produced the UK’s only two White Rhino calves this year. In total, including these new siblings, just six White Rhinos were born in European zoological collections in 2025.
The Park’s Curator and Managing Director, Jamie Craig, commented: “To have such a successful record breeding this incredible species is down to our team of dedicated keepers. A paddock full of Rhino is a great sight and the new arrivals are certainly keeping the team on their toes.”
Mo Meets Her Older Sisters For The First Time | Cotswold Wildlife Park
Ruby’s calf is proving to be a high-spirited and confident youngster. Her energetic outbursts have been entertaining visitors who have delighted in watching her ‘play-charge’ the other Rhinos, including her half-brother Markus, out in the large Rhino paddock. Ruby is an exceptional and very protective mother and the pair have formed an intensely strong bond. The calf has been named ‘Mo’ in honour of a much-loved member of staff, Mrs Maureen Clifford, who worked at the heart of the Park’s main office from 1978 until her retirement in 2017.
It is rare to catch Rhino births on camera as females usually give birth during the night. Luckily, the day Ruby unexpectedly went into labour, Conservation Officer Bethan Peacock managed to capture the event on camera. Just thirty minutes after her birth, Mo was taking her first wobbly steps with mum Ruby gently encouraging her newborn to stand with a little help from her horn. She will remain under Ruby’s watchful eye for approximately one year and stay with her mother for at least two years, benefiting from her protection.
Ruby And Nancy With Their Rhino Calves In The Paddock | Cotswold Wildlife Park
The new arrival brings the total number of Rhinos currently at the Park to nine, the highest number residing at the collection at any one time in its fifty-five year history. It is also one of the largest family groups on show anywhere in the country. Visitors can see the new calves daily from 10am to 4pm (last entry at 3pm) in the solar powered Rhino House or in the large Rhino paddock, weather permitting. Further visitor information is available via Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Protecting Wildlife Beyond The Park
The White Rhino is living proof of conservation success. Once on the brink of extinction in the early 1900s, when fewer than fifty animals were believed to remain, they are now the most common of the five Rhino subspecies. However, poaching has escalated again in recent years, driven by demand for Rhino horn from traditional medicine markets. Three of the five Rhino species are now critically endangered.
Cotswold Wildlife Park works closely with UK-based conservation charity Tusk to protect threatened species across Africa. Over the last ten years, the Park has raised more than £120,000 for conservation projects, including funds raised by Chairman Reggie Heyworth during the 2021 London Marathon.
Explore Gloucestershire
19 December 2025
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