Woburn, United Kingdom - April 28, 2025 Woburn Safari Park is celebrating the arrival of a precious new addition. A male Bactrian camel calf was born to parents Rita and Khan on April 22, 2025. This is the first Bactrian camel birth at the park in three years. Keepers reported that the newborn quickly got to his feet and is often seen staying close to his attentive mother. Visitors driving through the park may catch a glimpse of the calf in the Northern Plains paddock before reaching the entrance to the Road Safari drive-through. Woburn Safari Park now houses eight Bactrian camels: three females and five males. Rita and Khan also welcomed a male calf, Walter, back in 2022. Khan is the breeding male of the group and has fathered other calves, including Ump and Wednesday. When Rita became a first-time mother in 2022, she needed some extra support from the keepers. This time, however, she has shown strong maternal instincts, confidently caring for her new calf. While the rest of the herd has shown curiosity about the newcomer, Rita has kept a gentle distance to allow her calf time to adjust. Bactrian camels are social animals that live in groups led by a dominant male. At Woburn, Khan leads the herd, known for his striking hair and big personality. Although male Bactrian camels like Khan do not directly rear the young, they play a key role in leading and protecting the herd. The camels at Woburn belong to a domesticated species listed as ‘Least Concern.’ However, their wild relatives are critically endangered, facing severe threats in their natural habitats. Woburn Safari Park’s team of expert keepers is committed to preserving and caring for the species through dedicated breeding and conservation efforts. Tom Robson, Head of Reserves, expressed his joy: “We’re really delighted to welcome a male camel calf to the herd at Woburn Safari Park this month. This is Rita’s second calf, with her first born three years ago, so this is a truly special moment for the keepers, the Park, and the entire herd. Rita has been an attentive mum, staying close to her little one as he begins to explore his surroundings in the large camel paddock, alongside his brother Walter, dad Khan, and the rest of the herd.”