A rare eastern black rhino has given birth to a healthy calf at Chester Zoo, delighting visitors who were there to say hello to the new arrival. Females from the endangered species, which is native to East Africa, typically give birth at night or in the early hours. But 12-year-old Malindi stunned onlookers as she went into labour at about 12.30pm on a busy day at the zoo. In less than half an hour, a healthy male calf was born. Chester Zoo's curator of mammals Tim Rowlands said: "Visitors to the zoo were treated to something incredibly special when eastern black rhino Malindi went into labour in front of them. Advertisement :: IVF hope for almost-extinct northern white rhino :: Eight endangered rhinos die after being moved to a new park Image: There are just 650 eastern black rhino left in the wild. Pic: Chester Zoo "With just 650 eastern black rhino left in the wild, seeing the birth of a new calf and its very first steps is a very rare and special event indeed. "The newborn was delivered on to soft wood mulch and within next to no time it was up on its feet and running around - it couldn't have gone any smoother." Mr Rowlands said he hoped the birth would inspire urgent action to protect the future of the species, with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listing the animal as critically endangered. Image: Zoo visitors watched as Malindi gave birth in the afternoon. Pic: Chester Zoo Increasing demand for rhino horn in the traditional Asian medicine market is thought to have driven poachers and the illegal wildlife trade. The zoo's collections director Mike Jordan said: "This new arrival is a real boost to a critically endangered species. "It increases the number of eastern black rhino at Chester to 11 and is another vitally important success story in a Europe-wide breeding programme for these highly threatened animals. "A thriving, healthy population of this high profile species in good zoos is vitally important to the future of this species and a key component of our mission to prevent their extinction."<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice A one-week-old rhino calf born at Chester Zoo has ventured outside to play for the first time. The little youngster spent around an hour running around and rolling in sand before returning to mum’s side and heading off for a much-deserved nap. Tim Rowlands, curator of mammals at Chester Zoo , said: “Malindi has bonded very well with her new calf during these important early days and, as an experienced mum, is doing a great job once again. (Image: Chester Zoo) (Image: Chester Zoo) “The calf has bundles of energy and keepers will soon choose a name that perfectly matches his big personality.” Most rhino births typically happen during the quiet of night, but the calf was born to experienced mum Malindi just before 1pm on Tuesday , July 31 in front of surprised onlookers at the zoo. (Image: Chester Zoo) The Eastern black rhino is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Experts fear as few as 650 remain in the wild. The growing price of rhino horn has led to a massive increase in poaching and consequent decline in rhino numbers, which have decreased by around 95% across Africa since the turn of the 20th century. Chester Zoo has long supported conservation efforts to try and protect black rhinos and continues to fund, and provide expertise, to numerous sanctuaries in Africa.<doc-sep>
A rhino calf - one of only 650 in the world - has played outside for the first time, 10 days after being born at Chester Zoo. Keepers, who say the eastern black rhino has "bundles of energy", will soon choose a name that matches his "big personality". He spent an hour running around and rolling in sand before heading off for a nap on Friday. Image: The calf has 'bundles of energy', the zoo said. Pic: Chester Zoo Most rhino births happen overnight, but the youngster surprised keepers by arriving just before 1pm on 31 July. His mum, Malindi, also gave birth in 2013 to a female called Dakima. "Malindi has bonded very well with her new calf during these important early days and, as an experienced mum, is doing a great job once again," said the zoo's curator of mammals, Tim Rowlands. "The calf has bundles of energy and keepers will soon choose a name that perfectly matches his big personality." Image: The zoo says mum Malindi has bonded well with her new calf. Pic: Chester Zoo The eastern black rhino is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List. It is feared there may be as few as 650 left in the wild. The latest arrival means that 11 eastern black rhino calves have been born at Chester Zoo in the last 20 years. Researchers monitor female rhinos' hormone levels to work out the best time to introduce them to a partner.