It's a boy! Adorable footage captures the moment West Midland Safari welcomed the first baby white rhino born at the park in ten YEARS

Footage of the adorable moment a baby white rhino was born for the first time at the West Midland Safari Park in ten years, has appeared online.

The male southern rhino calf was born following a pregnancy of 16 months, when six-year-old mum Ailsa gave birth on Good Friday.

The currently unnamed youngster was up and running about within just one hour of his birth and remained by the side of his doting mum.

The currently unnamed youngster was up and running about within just one hour of his birth and remained by the side of his doting mum

Although the baby rhino is only a few days old, he already weighs a whopping 10.5 stone. However, he still has a lot of growing to do, as adult male rhinos reach weights of around 395 stone

The male southern rhino calf was born following a lengthy pregnancy of 16 months, when six-year-old mum Ailsa gave birth on Good Friday

Although the baby rhino is only a few days old, he already weighs a whopping 10.5 stone. However, he still has a lot of growing to do, as adult male rhinos reach weights of around 395 stone.

White rhinos are one of the world's most hunted animals – there are only an estimated 20,000 left in the wild. In 2014, more than 1,200 were killed by poachers for their horns, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and which are more valuable on the black market than diamonds.

West Midland Safari Park hopes that the success of this birth bodes well for the future and keepers can look forward to welcoming some brothers and sisters in years to come.

Lisa Watkins, Deputy Head Keeper of Ungulates at West Midland Safari Park, said: 'Both mum and baby are doing brilliantly well and Ailsa is providing all the care we would expect, even though she is a first time mum.

Footage of the adorable moment a baby white rhino was born for the first time at the West Midland Safari Park in ten years, emerged online

West Midland Safari Park hopes that the success of this birth bodes well for the future and keepers can look forward to welcoming some brothers and sisters in years to come

'It doesn't seem that long ago that the calf's dad Barney was out and about, bouncing around the reserves and I'm sure he will be keeping his eyes on him when he makes his public debut onto the reserves, next month.

'The calf is absolutely gorgeous and his birth is not only fantastic news for the park, but also for white rhino conservation.

'The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as 'near threatened' and with rhinos being poached every day for the trade in illegal rhino horn, we hope that our adorable newcomer will help highlight the very real danger the species still faces.'

Lisa Watkins, Deputy Head Keeper of Ungulates at West Midland Safari Park, said: 'Both mum and baby are doing brilliantly well and Ailsa is providing all the care we would expect, even though she is a first time mum'