In a heartwarming moment for wildlife conservation, Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire welcomed a very special newcomer—Markus, a white rhino calf born in October.

Markus isn’t just any baby rhino: he’s the first white rhino born in the UK this year, and only the fifth to be born in European zoos in 2025. After an impressive 16-month pregnancy, his mother Nancy gave birth in under 45 minutes—a rare and magical moment that was even captured on camera.

At birth, Markus weighed around 70 kg, and is already growing strong, gaining about 1.5–2 kg every day. The head keeper, Mark Godwin, described him as “one of the most confident calves” he’s ever seen.

Nancy is no novice—Markus is her seventh calf with Monty, the park’s breeding male. And Markus is anything but quiet: keepers say he’s “high-spirited and boisterous,” delighting visitors with his energetic antics.

Markus’s arrival brings the total number of rhinos at the park to eight, the most ever shown at once in its 55-year history.

He’s also named for a genuine conservation legend: Dr Markus Borner, a scientist who played a huge role in protecting rhinos in Africa.

This little rhino is a bright symbol of hope—and proof that conservation works