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Baby rhino takes first steps outdoors

Whipsnade Zoo The baby rhino looks to be galloping on the grass as he heads off for his first romp around the great outdoors. He is covered in mud and has three toes per foot. It has tiny bumps where its horns will eventually grow. Whipsnade Zoo
Keepers said the calf had been "tearing around the paddock" and getting covered in mud

A one-month-old rhino has stepped outside into his paddock for the first time.

Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire described his birth on 2 October as an "important step forward" for the conservation of southern whites.

The breed is under threat in the wild - where it is estimated just 17,500 remain - due to poaching, habitat loss and climate change.

The calf has joined his half-brother Benja, who was born in March, and keepers said he had "well and truly found his feet".

Whipsnade Zoo The baby southern white rhino calf is exploring the great outdoors for the first time with his mum Fahari. His is much smaller than his mum but they are staying close together and both have their heads down towards the green grass.Whipsnade Zoo
There are just 17,500 southern white rhinos left in the wild, and the calf's birth has been hailed as important for conservation

Keeper Michael Hepher said the calf had been "tearing around the paddock" and was getting more confident and curious each day.

"We've seen him chasing the antelope, and having great fun getting covered in mud, a favourite pastime of all our rhinos here at Whipsnade Zoo.

"We’ve been waiting for a relatively warm and dry day to let the calf into the great outdoors for the first time, so the stars really had to align for that to happen in November."

His name will be chosen by visitors to the zoo's website from a shortlist of Khulu, Garamba, Darwin or Nkosi.

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