Timbi, a 10-year-old orphaned rhino rehabilitated at Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, gave birth to a bull calf on 8 December. This is the sanctuary’s 5th birth this year.
A post by the sanctuary reveals that the team had anticipated the birth for a few days after Timbi’s milk came through and ‘she began isolating from the rest of the rhinos’.
According to International Rhino Foundation, all five rhino species have a long gestation period. Rhino moms are pregnant for 15-16 months before giving birth to a single calf. Calves will stay close to its mom until they’re one and a half to two years old. A rhino mother may then be ready to give birth to her next calf.
Although both Mom and baby are doing fine, Timbi did not have a smooth birth compared to the other four rhinos.
‘As the baby began to emerge, Petronel saw that he was in a breech position. His back legs were visible but Timbi was struggling and running out of energy,’ said a statement by the sanctuary. ‘Breech deliveries can be very dangerous as the umbilical cord can be flattened or twisted and the baby can lose blood flow to hind legs’
You can watch this incredible birth sighting in the video below.
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