Monarto Zoo’s rhino calf Tundu is growing quickly — and so is her personality

MONARTO Zoo’s baby Tundu is putting on 3kg a day — and her cheeky personality is growing with her.

Monarto Zoo update on baby rhino Tundu. With his mother Umquali. Picture: Dylan Coker

BABY Tundu puts on 3kg a day — and her cheeky personality is growing with her.

The southern white rhinoceros calf is one of Monarto Zoo’s star babies and is a special part of the zoo’s conservation work and breeding program.

Tundu, which means mischievous in Swahili, is the fifth rhino calf to be born at Monarto, since the first — a little boy called Alfie — was welcomed to the family in 2004.

When The Advertiser first photographed Tundu, daughter of mum Umquali and dad Satara, in early October, she weighed about 90kg — she know weighs more than 300kg.

Senior ungulate keeper Mark Mills said the six-month-old rhino calf still had a “very cheeky” nature and was living up to her name.

“She’s started growing her first horn now and she’s very cheeky by nature … calves try to assert their dominance from day one, especially by bashing up mum,” he said.

“It’s a pretty funny thing to see a baby rhino have its mum, sister or aunty bailed up in the corner.”

Baby southern white rhinoceros Tundu is growing quickly, picture here with mum Umquali. Picture: Dylan Coker.

He encouraged people to do a behind-the-scenes rhino tour and meet the zoo’s gentle giants.

“It’s quite special to get close to a rhino calf, because they aren’t a calf for long,” Mr Mills said.

“Tundu still looks for human contact, whether it be for hay or a hard pat, so people have a unique opportunity to get to know her.

“We all think she’s pretty special.”

To find out more about Monarto’s babies visit monartozoo.com.au