Northern Europe’s only female black rhino has arrived in Ree Park Safari

Seven-year-old female rhinoceros Mlimba has now arrived at Ree Park Safari near Ebeltoft, from Port Lympne Safari Park in the UK, where she was born and raised. Weighing nearly 1,200 kilograms, she is one of the most valuable individuals in an international breeding program aimed at ensuring the survival of the black rhinoceros, one of the world’s most endangered species.

Ree Park Safari is the only zoo in Scandinavia to house black rhinos. The park already has two males – M’Baku and Thabo – and the hope is that Mlimba will eventually become pregnant and give birth to calves that could one day be released into the wild in Africa. According to WWF, only about 6,000 black rhinos remain in the wild, and the species is classified as critically endangered.

Before Mlimba is introduced to the two males and the park’s large savannah habitat, she must get to know her new surroundings and the team of zookeepers. At Ree Park Safari, the rhinos live on a large, open savannah alongside giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and antelopes – a unique enclosure that reflects the animals’ natural environment.

The park  has for many years been actively involved in international breeding and conservation programs, aiming not only to secure endangered species in captivity but also to contribute to rewilding efforts.