Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire celebrated the birth of a baby white rhino, marking the only birth of its kind in the UK this year. The calf, named Markus, joined a group of eight rhinos—called a crash—and became the twelfth born at the park in the past twelve years.
Park officials confirmed that Markus arrived healthy and strong, and that his birth was recorded on camera. He continues to nurse successfully from his mother, Nancy, who has now produced seven calves with breeding male Monty.
Keepers Witness the Remarkable Arrival
“Keepers were present the evening Markus was born,” the park said in a statement. “In less than 45 minutes, Nancy completed her 16-month pregnancy and delivered a healthy male calf.”
Head keeper Mark Godwin praised Markus’s spirited personality. “He’s one of the most confident calves I’ve seen,” he said. “If he grows into his features, he’ll be a big lad.” Newborn rhinos usually weigh about 11 stone (70 kilograms), and the species has one of the longest gestation periods of any land mammal.
The park described Markus as “high-spirited and boisterous,” entertaining visitors with bursts of energy and playful behavior.
A Tribute to a Conservation Pioneer
Markus will remain with his mother for the next year before joining the rest of the crash. The park named him in honour of the late Dr. Markus Borner, a renowned conservation scientist who dedicated his life to protecting African wildlife.
Reggie Heyworth, chairman of Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, explained the tribute: “Dr. Borner gave me my start in conservation when he led the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Tanzania. He was not only a giant in conservation but also a wonderful mentor and close friend.”
The arrival of Markus marks a rare and hopeful milestone for rhino conservation in the UK, symbolizing the continued success of the park’s long-term breeding efforts.
