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Conservationists have hailed the first successful artificial insemination birth of a southern white rhino in North America.

The arrival at San Diego Zoo Safari Park is seen as an important step in saving another endangered species, the northern white rhino, from extinction.

San Diego Zoo Global announced that mother Victoria gave birth to a healthy male calf on Sunday.

They will remain out of public view for now. Barbara Durrant, director of reproductive sciences at San Diego Zoo Global, said: “This birth is significant as it represents a critical step in our effort to save the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction.”

Victoria was artificially inseminated with frozen semen from southern white rhino Maoto in March 2018 following hormone-induced ovulation.

The northern white rhino is a distant subspecies of the southern white rhino. Only two northern white rhinos are left — both female.