A WEST Oxfordshire wildlife park is hoping to hear the pitter-patter of tiny rhino hooves.

Monty is a white rhino, whose species is threatened in the wild by poachers and the destruction of their natural habitat. His keepers at Cotswold Wildlife Park believe he can help.

As a globally-recognised animal breeding centre, the Burford park is keen to welcome a baby rhino.

And it is down to Monty to make that happen, along with his female companions, Ruby and Nancy – named by Prime Minister and local MP David Cameron after his daughters. “We have never had a baby rhino here,” says Mark Godwin, section head of large mammals at the park. But now Monty is reaching maturity, we are hoping to kickstart our breeding programme.”

To breed, the rhinos cannot be related.

So while the two girls have come from African reserves, Monty came from a park on Merseyside.

“He’s a Scouser,” says Mark. “But we don’t hold it against him.”