Weighing in at a hefty 50-60 kilograms, the female baby rhino is the first for the Australia Zoo's breeding program. The calf was born early Tuesday morning and is said to be wrinkly, with big feet and ears. Manu Ludden, Head of Australia Zoo's Africa Department, says the calf is doing well, and has already started feeding from her proud mother called Caballe.

"Our little Rhino Calf was on the move immediately after being born and she has already had at least three good long feeds. "She is a really active little girl, and we couldn't be happier with her progress. "Mum is also doing well. She is super relaxed and she seems quite content with her new little calf," says Manu.

Caballe has been with Australia Zoo since August 2010 after she travelled from Hamilton Zoo in Auckland. Caballe is a Southern White Rhinoceros which is listed as Near Threatened by IUCN due to continued poaching threats and the high illegal demand for its horn. One of Africa's 'Big 5' animals, the Rhino is endangered, with an estimated 20,150 White Rhinos left in the wild, and 780 in captivity.

"White Rhinos are doing the best of all the Rhino species, numbering more than all the other species put together. "This hasn't always been the case though, with numbers dropping to less than 100 individuals at the turn of the century, so they are a great success story," says Manu.

Australia Zoo is part of a regional co-operative programme, working with other zoos in Australasia to maximise breeding potential and genetic diversity of the White Rhino. For now keepers are leaving the young calf to bond and feed with his mother and she is expected to put on several kilos a day as she feeds and grows to the full size of about 2.5 tonnes.