“She also calls him back if he strays too far.”

In March last year, Kipenzi gave birth to her first calf, but the calf did not survive the birth.

“Veterinarians and caregivers closely monitored the birth of this second newborn and were prepared to provide support as needed,” Pilgrim said.

“They are both currently housed in a caretaker-only area that has been specially set up for the birth of the calf.”

Keepers monitor the calf before he is released into the rhino enclosure and eventually onto the zoo’s savannah and to the public.

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The calf – born last Sunday morning after a 16-month pregnancy – will be named in the coming weeks through a voting contest among Zoos Victoria members and donors.

Victoria’s Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the birth was recognition of the extraordinary efforts and resilience of the calf’s mother and the dedicated team of carers and veterinarians working to conserve the species.

“We are delighted to celebrate the birth of a southern white rhino calf at Werribee Open Range Zoo,” Dimopoulos said in a statement.

“I encourage families to take advantage of the free admission for children this school holiday and learn more about the vital work being done to protect these beloved animals in the future.”

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The southern white rhino faces increasing threats, including poaching for the illegal rhino horn trade and habitat destruction and fragmentation due to expanding human infrastructure.

The Australasian breeding program aims to raise awareness of the species’ plight, raise genetically diverse groups of the species in protected environments, and support fundraising efforts in their natural habitat.

Animals outside their own habitat could also be used to support declining populations in the wild, the zoo said.

MONKEY