PREGNANCY is always a reason to celebrate, but when it involves a critically endangered species like the Eastern black rhino, it’s truly something special. The team at Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire is excited to announce that Dakima, their beloved rhino, is expecting her second calf—and the news has everyone at the zoo thrilled.

In the wild, Eastern black rhinos are solitary creatures, each occupying their own space. At Folly Farm, however, the rhinos reside in the Kifaru Reserve, which allows the keepers to carefully manage their breeding programme. Dakima shares her enclosure with her mate Nkosi, and the pair have been given a series of planned ‘date nights’ to increase the chances of another breeding success.

So, how exactly do keepers confirm a rhino pregnancy? No, they don’t ask Dakima to take a pregnancy test! Instead, the team uses a more scientific approach. Stool samples are collected and sent to a specialist lab at Chester Zoo, where experts analyse her hormones. The results have shown a clear increase in Dakima’s hormone levels, and with her steady weight gain, the team is optimistic that a calf is on the way. They predict that Dakima is already several months into her 15-16 month pregnancy, with the calf expected to arrive around November.

Dakima, who is now 12 years old, gave birth to her first calf, Glyndwr, in January 2020, just before the pandemic began. Glyndwr has since moved to Flamingo Land, a fellow animal park, to continue the breeding programme for this critically endangered species. His move marked a significant milestone in the zoo’s efforts to support the survival of Eastern black rhinos.

When Dakima and Nkosi first arrived at Folly Farm in 2015, the Eastern black rhino population in the wild was dangerously low, with fewer than 650 individuals remaining. Thanks to the dedication of conservationists worldwide, the situation has improved dramatically. The population of wild rhinos has more than doubled, with nearly 1,400 rhinos now roaming freely, and about 85 Eastern black rhinos in European zoos.

“This is a really exciting time for us,” said Alan Keeling, zoo manager. “Although it’s still early, we’re hopeful we’ll be celebrating another breeding success. It’s the ultimate goal for any zookeeper to help raise awareness of the challenges these animals face and to play a part in increasing their numbers, both in captivity and eventually in the wild.”

Dakima’s excellent care of her first calf, Glyndwr, has set high hopes for this pregnancy. Glyndwr was named in honour of Folly Farm’s Founding Director, Glyn Williams, and the zoo team are confident that Dakima will prove to be just as wonderful a mother the second time around.

“Dakima has always been calm and steady, and she seems to be adjusting well to her pregnancy,” Alan added. “We’ll continue to monitor her closely, ensuring she gets all the care she needs, including plenty of comfortable bedding to help her stay relaxed as she moves through the final months of her pregnancy.”

ST DAVIDS RNLI all-weather lifeboat, Norah Wortley, was deployed at 4:16pm on April 7 to assist a 38ft yacht suffering mechanical failure 30 nautical miles offshore.

The solo-crewed vessel, located northwest of the Smalls lighthouse traffic separation scheme, was unable to continue under its own power. Due to the vessel’s limited speed, the busy shipping lanes nearby, and the favourable sea conditions, Coxswain made the decision to tow the yacht to Milford Haven for necessary repairs.

Towing began just after 5:30pm, and the yacht was safely guided through the lock gates of Milford Marina at around midnight. While at the marina, the crew enjoyed takeaway food generously provided by RNLI volunteers before setting off on the one-hour passage back to St Justinians.

The lifeboat was rehoused at 1:15am, completing almost nine hours of service following the initial launch.

ONE of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers is calling for better collaboration between schools, employers and training providers to inform young people and their parents about apprenticeships.

Faith O’Brien, managing director of Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, said: “A significant gap remains in the quality of joint marketing activities between schools, employers and training providers to effectively promote apprenticeships”.

“This gap is often attributed to a lack of awareness among careers officers in schools and a reluctance to present apprenticeships as a viable option for all pupils, regardless of academic attainment.”

She believes best practice for promoting apprenticeships involves directly engaging with employers to foster strategic and operational relationships while investing in the sector.

“Many employers in Wales have successfully embedded apprenticeships into their career pathways, making them a crucial component of their recruitment and retention strategies,” she added.

“As the leading provider of work-based apprenticeships in Hospitality and Food & Drink Manufacturing, Cambrian Training has built strong employer relationships, enabling a deep understanding of business needs and ensuring apprenticeship programmes align with their delivery models”.

“It’s vital that young people, their parents and teachers have access to all the available information of the different education options. We also need parity of esteem between the academic and vocational routes, so that our young people can take informed decisions that lead to successful life-long careers.”

Faith’s comments come as Wales tries to reduce the number of young people aged between 16 to 24 not in education, training or employment (NEET). The year ending September 2024 showed that the NEET rate was 10.7% and individuals aged 24 accounted for the highest rate at 18.8%.

Recent UK research commissioned by Grant Thornton UK LLP reported growing recognition of the benefits apprenticeship can offer school leavers. However, almost one in five (19%) of young people surveyed don’t believe they have received good careers advice about school leaver apprenticeships.

Most young people felt pressure from parents and teachers to go to university and only just over one in five (22%) are considering or currently doing a school leaver apprenticeship.

The Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee has launched The Routes into post-16 education and training inquiry, examining the quality of information given to learners about the full range of post-16 options in Wales.

The inquiry will also examine how effective careers support is at compulsory school age, changes in post-18routes, Welsh-medium provision, equity of access, Post-16 destination data and the Welsh Government’s role.

Cambrian Training Company is supporting careers initiatives aimed at schoolchildren and their parents to raise awareness, knowledge and interest in apprenticeships.

The company attends apprenticeship and careers fairs across Wales and sponsors the Culinary Association of Wales and the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC).

The WICC features competitions and skills classes to give young people a chance to try their hand and learn more about the industry and job opportunities.

Cambrian Training Company also collaborates with Menter a Busnes and Tasty Careers in Food & Drink schools programmes to promote careers in Welsh food and drink and hospitality

Photo captions: 

Cambrian Training Company promoting apprenticeships at the Apprenticeship Fair held in the Senedd during National Apprenticeship Week.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director.