An adorable baby rhino has ventured outside his indoor cosy den for the first time at a zoo near Hertfordshire.

The month-old southern white rhino has been videoed enjoying his 21-acre paddock at Whipsnade Zoo for the first time – taking great joy getting dirty in the muddy wallows.

Keeper Michael Hepher said: “It's been amazing to see our newest rhino calf tearing around the paddock with mum today, he’s well and truly found his feet!

“He’s getting more confident each day and is getting more curious about the world around him. We've seen him chasing the antelope, and having great fun getting covered in mud, a favourite past-time of all our rhinos here at Whipsnade Zoo.” 

He added: “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!” 

With just 17,500 southern white rhinos left in the wild, the little rhino will be taking big steps for his species by joining the European breeding programme, which helps to create a genetically diverse and healthy back up population in conservation zoos like Whipsnade.  

(Image: Whipsnade Zoo) Keepers are now asking the public for help in naming the white rhino calf, which can be voted for on the zoo’s website before the winner is announced next week.

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“Naming the baby is a special thing for the team, and we’d love the public to get involved with helping pick a name that suits him,” explained Michael.   

(Image: Dominic Lipinski) “He’s not only an important addition to the conservation breeding programme for his species, but he’s also a great ambassador to educate the public about the threats rhinos in the wild, such as poaching, habitat loss and climate change, and what they can do to help.” 

ZSL, the international conservation charity behind Whipsnade, is working globally to protect wildlife, including through its Rhino Impact Investment project.

(Image: Dominic Lipinski)