She may be only one week old but this mischievous baby rhino already knows how to run rings around her mother.

The as-yet-unnamed New Year arrival at Knowsley Safari Park on Merseyside is clearly in a huge hurry to discover everything about her new surroundings, and has been busy exploring the nursery pen under the watchful eye of her mother Meru, 21.

The not-so-little lady – she already weighs an impressive 7st – is the latest of the rare rhino species to be born at the safari park, which belongs to Knowsley Hall and its estate, owned by Lord and Lady Derby. 'It is almost as exciting as having one of my own,' says Lady Derby.

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Catch Me If You Can: She may belong to an endangered species, but this young white rhino is so full of life she cannot resist scampering past her mother, Meru

Galloping around the nursery pen can be thirsty work when you're only one week old

'We will be inviting the public to help us to name her on social media. Rhinos are very maternal and it is really touching to see the way the mother cares for her newborn.'

John Moss, rhino-keeper at Knowsley, says: 'We're really enjoying monitoring her as she explores her new surroundings. She's already so mischievous as she runs around her mum, copying her mannerisms.'

His colleague Jason Doherty, rhino team leader at Knowsley, says: 'We have a 100-acre space here for our rhinos to grow. That helps us keep up such a consistent breeding programme, which ranks us as one of Europe's top white rhino breeding groups.'

The new arrival is the 19th calf to be born at the safari park.

Thank goodness mum is there to provide some welcome sustenance at Knowsley Safari Park

Phew, I'm bushed: After all that running around, there's nothing like a siesta...and while the baby rhino gets set for 40 winks, Meru keeps a watchful eye

Tragically, white rhinos are one of the world's most hunted animals – there are only an estimated 20,000 left in the wild. In 2014, more than 1,200 were killed by poachers for their horns, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and which are more valuable on the black market than diamonds.

Knowsley Safari Park helps to fund the work of the Lowveld Rhino Trust in Zimbabwe, with £30,000 raised so far in direct sponsorship from the Derby family, visitor donations and fundraising activities.