A pint-sized new arrival is captivating visitors at the Cotswolds Wildlife Park, marking a significant success for the UK's conservation efforts. The park has welcomed a rare white rhino calf named Mo, one of only two such calves born in the country this entire year.
A Precious New Arrival for the Herd
Baby Mo is the newest member of the park's crash, or herd, of white rhinos in Oxfordshire. Her birth follows that of another calf, Markus, who was born earlier in 2025. Mo and Markus are the only white rhinos born in the UK in 2025, highlighting the rarity of such an event. The park released a series of endearing photographs showing the young calf taking her wobbly first steps under the watchful and reassuring eye of her mother, Ruby.
Star Power and a Special Namesake
While Mo is currently the centre of attention, her mother Ruby is normally the park's celebrity. Ruby was named after the renowned writer and television personality Ruby Wax shortly after arriving at the park from South Africa in 2008. Wax is a long-time friend of the wildlife park. Meanwhile, the new calf carries a heartfelt tribute within her name. Mo has been named in honour of Mrs Maureen Clifford, a much-loved staff member who worked in the park's main office for nearly four decades, from 1978 until her retirement in 2017.
A Conservation Success Story
The birth is a major achievement for the park's breeding programme. Only six white rhinos were born in zoos across Europe in 2025, making each birth critically important for the species. Since 2013, an impressive total of 13 rhinos have been born at the Cotswolds Wildlife Park. Jamie Craig, the park's curator and managing director, told the Oxford Mail that this successful record is a direct result of the team's dedication. "To have such a successful record breeding this incredible species is down to our team of dedicated keepers," he said. "A paddock full of rhino is a great sight and the new arrivals are certainly keeping the team on their toes."
