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Rare black rhino born Christmas Eve at Michigan zoo plays with mom for first time
AN ultra-rare baby rhino was seen playing with his mom for the first time - just hours after his birth on Christmas Eve.
Doppsee, a 12-year-old black rhino, gave birth to a male calf early Tuesday morning at Potter Park Zoo.
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The baby animal is something of a Christmas miracle as the first-ever black rhino calf to be born at the Michigan menagerie in its 100-year history.
Potter Park Zoo shared sweet CCTV footage on Tuesday of the first-time mama and her newborn son, who hasn't been named yet.
"It's a boy!" the zoo wrote on Facebook.
Surveillance cameras caught Doppsee nuzzling and playing with her baby hours after he was born.
The calf "appears healthy" and his "frequent nursing" is a good sign, according to Potter Park Zoo veterinarian Dr. Ronan Eustace.
"As this is Doppsee's first pregnancy, the animal care and veterinary staff will continue to monitor Doppsee and her calf closely in the next few weeks," Eustace said.
"But so far, the rhino calf appears healthy and we have observed frequent nursing shortly after the birth, which is encouraging."
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The new mom reportedly stood up about an hour an a half after giving birth, according to animal care staff.
Mother and calf are "bonding behind the scenes" in the park's rhino barn, but the zoo said visitors hoping to catch a glimpse in person will have to wait "until weather allows" in the spring of 2020.
For now, Doppsee's fans can keep up with how she's adjusting to new motherhood through pictures and videos posted on the Potter Park Zoo's blog, or on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Potter Park Animal Care Supervisor Pat Fountain called the calf's birth one of the zoo's "crowning achievements" because of how rare it is to successfully breed black rhinos.
Despite conservation efforts over the past two decades, the critically endangered species is still at risk of extinction.
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The estimates there are only about 5,000 individual black rhinos left in the wild because of illegal poaching and loss of habitat.
Just over 50 black rhinos are alive in captivity, the zoo said.
Potter Park Zoo Director Cynthia Wagner called the birth "monumental" and told that the wildlife park is ecstatic about their newest addition.
"We are dedicated to conserving rhinos and couldn't be more excited about this successful black rhino birth."
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