Knowsley Safari’s newest arrival has said hello to the world in time for the Bank Holiday weekend

Knowsley’s Safari’s latest arrival has said hello to the world in time for the Bank Holiday weekend, after being unveiled to the public for the first time.

Baby rhino Bindi has been doing well since her birth to mum Bayami in February, so keepers at Knowsley Safari decided it was time for the southern white rhino to be released out onto the Safari drive.

Knowsley’s marketing manager Ian Duke revealed Bindi was introduced onto the drive yesterday and he says: “After a brief moment of hesitation, Bindi took off like a rocket and our tiny tank has been out exploring the Africa section.”

Baby rhino Bindi with mum Bayami after being released onto the drive. Credit: Knowsley Safari

And he adds: “It’s always a special moment when any newborn explores the safari drive for the first time and it’s great that visitors may get the chance to see her and mum this Bank Holiday weekend.”

Bindi was born at 11.32am on Monday, February 12, with her birth a huge cause of celebration for Knowsley Safari.

Southern white rhino have been brought back from the brink of extinction but are still under threat from poaching in South Africa and the current white rhino population is around 17,000 – so the birth at Knowsley was extra special.

The popular wildlife park has one of the largest white rhino crashes in the UK, and their breeding helps to protect this rare and vulnerable species.

Bindi’s mum and dad, Bayami and Shaka, recently found fame on Channel 4’s hit TV series Secret Life of the Safari Park, which aired on TV in earlier this year in January and February.

In episode six, filmed in Autumn 2022, viewers saw sire Shaka attempting to mate with Bayami – but what viewers didn’t find out is that it was a success, and the birth came after a 16-month pregnancy.

Knowsley’s Safari Drive provides a natural open space for the rhino, and the landscape can support two separate crashes allowing females to move between different territories just as they would in the wild.

There is though, the added benefit of a state-of-the-art house for the rhino to retreat to, so Ian adds: “While visitors will hopefully be able to see Bindi because she has absolutely loved running around, she still has access to her house and yard so if she chooses to come in she can.

“So if people don’t spot her on the drive this weekend, they can take a look there too.”