Britain’s first IVF white rhino calf has been born at the Colchester Zoo.

The history-making calf is named Zamba, and was welcomed into the world on October 3, following a 16-month pregnancy. His mother, 11-year-old Cynthia, was in labor for three hours and was able to deliver the calf on her own. Zamba’s father, Simba, had died in April at the age of 41.

According to the Telegraph UK, a pioneering artificial insemination treatment developed at the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin made Zamba’s birth possible.

Colchester Zoo’s zoological director Anthony Tropeano said via the Telegraph that Zamba’s birth is a milestone in IVF research.

We are obviously delighted by the safe arrival of baby Zamba, a first for Colchester Zoo.

It is all the more special because it is the first successful insemination of a white rhino in the UK, which is a critical development in the research work that the Berlin Institute is leading.

Little Zamba was kept indoors for the first few days, but can now be seen outside, scampering around his mother:

Congratulations to mother Cynthia – and to everyone who worked so diligently to make this extraordinary event possible!

Image: istock.com

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“UK’s First White Rhino Conceived By Artificial Insemination Born” by Rhishja Larson originally published October 16, 2009 on EcoWorldly.

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