Orana Park welcomes baby white rhino

The new baby rhinoceros with his mother Tamu. Photo / Supplied

Staff at Orana Park in Christchurch are planning a competition to name their newest arrival.

After a 17 month long pregnancy, their white rhino has become a mum for the first time.

Seven-year-old Tamu recently given birth to a boy who topped the scales at 55 kilograms.

Animal collection manager Ian Adams says rhino calves can gain more than two kilos per day in their first few months and the baby already weighs 70 kg.

Tamu and another female rhino were transferred to Orana in 2007 from Perth Zoo to inject new bloodlines into the Orana herd.

- NEWSTALK ZB