大象传媒

Four months after taking her first tentative steps in front of a worldwide audience, Paignton's Zoo's black rhino calf Zuri has become the star attraction.

After the excitement of watching her birth on the 大象传媒 Devon website, many web watchers have become dedicated rhino fans.

Zuri is growing more confident

Visitor numbers have soared since Zuri was born on Monday 5 March 2007, with admirers coming from far and wide to see her.

"Every day you can hear visitors talking about Zuri," said zoo spokesman Phillip Knowling. "She's definitely the star attraction.

"Our visitor numbers are 38,000 up on this time last year and Zuri has played no small part in that."

The zoo's rhino keepers, Jason, Lucy and Louise, have been following Zuri's progress as she grows ever more confident.

Her horn has already grown to almost three inches in length and her body is becoming more like that of an adult rhino.

Zuri and Sita eating hay

She spends of a lot of time racing around the outdoor enclosure practicing rhino charges or mimicking her mum.

Black rhino calves are usually weaned at around 12 to 18 months, but even at three months old Zuri is chewing on branches.

Keeper Lou McKenna said: "Zuri is now eating some solid foods, including carrots and hay."

She's becoming braver each week - venturing further from her mother and growing less nervous of her human visitors.

Zuri, the first black rhino calf to be born at the Devon zoo, is likely to stay with mum Sita for two years or more.

By then Sita and her male partner, Kingo, should be ready to breed again as part of a crucial conservation programme.

All five species of rhino are endangered. Black rhinos suffered a population decline of 96 per cent during the 1970s and 1980s. There are now thought to be just 3,100 scattered through east and southern Africa.