WEST Midland Safari Park's baby southern white rhino, Ekozu, is celebrating his first birthday.

To celebrate Ekozu's first birthday keepers at the Bewdley attraction have treated him to a big birthday gift - a giant cake.

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The cake was constructed, made of hay, apples, cabbage and carrots, all covering a carefully made, cake-shaped cardboard base.

The keepers had an inkling that Ekozu would enjoy demolishing the cake, as much as he would eating it.

The cute youngster was happy to share his birthday gift with mum, seven-year-old Ailsa and looked to her for encouragement, before approaching the strange new object.

The pair have been inseparable since Ekozu's eagerly awaited birth on March 25, 2016.

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Lisa Watkins, head keeper of Ungulates, said: "Ekozu has given us an amazing first year with lots of laughs with his cheeky ways.

"His keepers are delighted with how well he is getting on and Ailsa has done an amazing job of raising such an adorable character.

"He loves his food and in his first year has grown from 67.5kg to just over 400kg.

"It was nice to see him enjoying his birthday cake and sharing it with mum.

"It will be Ailsa's first Mother's Day the day after Ekozu's birthday so it was only right she got some tasty treats too.

"We can't wait to see what mischief he will get up to this year."

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Ekozu's birth was highly celebrated by staff as he was the first baby rhino to be born at the Park since his dad, Barney, ten years previous. Also, it marked a success for the Park's breeding programme of the species.

Southern white rhinos are listed as 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This partly due to habitat loss, but more commonly, poaching for the illegal trade in rhino horn.

For more information about West Midland Safari Park, visit wmsp.co.uk or call 01299 402114.

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