An orphaned rhino has given birth in the wild. Lula, rescued as a calf by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, delivered a healthy bull calf on September 7.

The news was shared on World Rhino Day. The centre says both mother and calf are doing well.

Lula was released back into the wild in October 2024 with another orphan, Khulula. A successful wild birth marks a full circle for a rescued animal.

Rhino calves stay close to their mothers for their first years. Rangers are monitoring the pair from a distance.

In other rhino news, a Texas ranch welcomed its third southern white rhino calf in three years. A Thai zoo also announced a male white rhino calf on World Rhino Day.

Rhinos remain under threat from poaching. Conservationists say every birth in the wild is a small victory.

Lula was rescued as a young calf and raised at the Hoedspruit centre. She learned to live in the wild over several years of gradual release before her October 2024 return. Rangers now watch the new mother and calf from a respectful distance.