White rhino calf is born at zoo

Zamba is the first white rhino calf born in the UK through artificial insemination

A white rhino calf has been born at Colchester Zoo in Essex after its mother's 16-month pregnancy.

The male calf was born to Cynthia on 3 October and is believed to be the first white rhino born in the UK through artificial insemination (AI).

The father to the calf, named Zamba, was the zoo's male white rhino, Simba, which died in April.

Anthony Tropeano, from the zoo, said, "We are obviously delighted by the safe arrival of baby Zamba."

He added: "It is all the more special because it is the first successful insemination of a white rhino in the UK."

Zamba's birth was made possible by a pioneering artificial insemination treatment developed by experts at the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin.

The calf was kept inside his enclosure for the first few days, but has been venturing out and can be seen running circles around his mother, Colchester Zoo said.