Page last updated at 18:18 GMT, Monday, 1 December 2008

Rhino gets body heat test in cold

Rhino calf and mother
The rhino calf is the first to be born at the zoo for 10 years

New technology is being used at Chester Zoo to ensure a rare baby rhinoceros is warm enough during the cold weather.

Vets are using a thermal imaging camera to monitor the body temperature of a black rhino calf, the first born at the zoo for 10 years, and his mother.

If the rhinos' body temperature drops, they are brought back inside for their own well-being.

There are only 700 black rhinos left in the wild and the calf was born through an international breeding programme.

Kevin Buley, head of zoo programmes, said: "It is important both him and his mother, Kitani, get out and about but the freezing conditions mean we keep an extra eye on them.

"The images allow us to determine their body temperatures and gauge how they how they are faring outside and also how long they can be comfortably outside for."

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