German zookeepers to raise baby rhino

updated 2:36 p.m. ET Sept. 29, 2009

BERLIN - German zookeepers are caring for a baby rhino after deciding to separate it from its mother shortly after birth.

The Allwetter Zoo in the western city of Muenster says the female calf was born Sept. 20.

Officials quickly decided to separate her from her mother, Emmi, after she showed signs of nervous and aggressive behavior toward the newborn. Emmi had inflicted fatal injuries on two previous calves.

Zoo director Joerg Adler says that "we care for it around the clock at the moment." He says that keepers "spend the night next to the rhino, because it is looking for the physical contact."

Adler says that in the first two weeks the calf is being given milk from a bottle every two hours.

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