KAMPALA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the country's national conservation agency, on Thursday announced the birth of a white rhinoceros calf in the central district of Nakasongola.
Malaika, the female rhinoceros at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, gave birth to a calf whose sex is yet to be confirmed Wednesday, Bashir Hangi, communications manager at the UWA, confirmed the news to Xinhua over the telephone. "The reason why we don't know the sex of the calf yet is that the mother (Malaika) is overly protective. You can't get close."
According to Hangi, this is the fourth calf Malaika has given birth to. "Malaika is a second-generation mother who has produced Noelle, Elias, Pipo and the newborn."
The new birth brings the total number of individual rhinoceros at the sanctuary, about 115 km north of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, to 37. "It's a testimony to consistent and concerted conservation efforts," Hangi said.
"This is very exciting news to us. Rhino is among the big five. So, for us, when we see the rhino population increasing, when we are planning to reintroduce the rhinos back to the wild, we (are) chest-thumping," Hangi said, noting it's good for the sanctuary and the tourism industry as people come to see rhinoceros in Uganda.
The sanctuary, which is being used as a breeding program for rhinoceros in the East African country, is about to reach its maximum carrying capacity. According to the UWA, there are ongoing studies and plans about the translocation of rhinoceros to national parks where there is more space.
