ZOO HOPES NEW RHINO WILL BE A BIG ATTRACTION

THE newest resident at Twycross Zoo could play a vital role in the future of his threatened species.

The zoo has welcomed Sudan the eastern black rhino, who is two years and 10 months old.

His arrival is part of a European breeding programme and, according to the zoo, he will be an essential individual in helping to protect the critically endangered species from extinction.

He has travelled more than 1,200km from Leipzig Zoo in Germany – the same zoo where Twycross Zoo’s female rhino, Nandi, lived for two decades.

Over the next few weeks he will be monitored closely by the zoo’s expert keepers to ensure he settles into his new home comfortably.

It will be a little while yet until he officially meets Nandi.

Neil Dorman, curator of Twycross Zoo, said: “We’re thrilled to finally welcome Sudan to Twycross Zoo and pleased that his arrival went so smoothly.

“There is a long way to go before Sudan and Nandi will be introduced to each other face to face, but there is no denying the significance that this will have on the conservation of the species in the long-term.

“We look forward to welcoming our visitors to come and say hello to Sudan throughout October.”

The story of the eastern black rhino is both a remarkable and sad one, with the species coming close to being declared extinct in 2011 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Due to illegal hunting and the demand for rhino horn rapidly increasing, the species suffered a 98 per cent reduction in the 20th century.

Recently, there has been some conservation success during lockdown in southern Africa, where they have seen a dramatic drop in rhino killings. However, there is a risk of the reappearance of poaching on a grand scale as and when travel restrictions ease.

With just 5,000 left in the wilds of Namibia, South Africa and east Africa, the importance of zoos is paramount in protecting the species for future generations.

Dr Sharon Redrobe, of Twycross Zoo, said: “Our core mission as a conservation charity and modern zoo is to protect endangered species and we are pleased to be working within a European breeding programme, which consists of over 20 zoos and wildlife parks from around the continent, to help preserve the population and maintain genetic diversity of the eastern black rhino.

“In what has been our most challenging year yet, Sudan is definitely the good news we’ve all been waiting for and we look forward to our visitors meeting him.”

All zoo visitors are now able to say a socially-distanced hello to the new arrival. In line with government guidance around Covid-19, visitors should expect some changes to their day out at Twycross Zoo and will need to book their admission online at twycrosszoo. org