Rhinos at Monarto Zoo: Ron joins a tour of the park in the Murraylands region of South Australia

To look at him up close you'd think butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. Meet Satara - one of Monarto's resident Rhinos. Keeper, Tash Ryles plays nanny to her two tonne babies and won't have a word said against them.

Tash Ryles, Keeper: "Satara was wild caught from Kruger National Park as a wild bull. He's produced two calves since he's been here at Monarto so he's a fantastic breeder and he's done exactly what we need him to do."

Join a tour and you'll find the old "boma" or rhino enclosure with its high wooden posts is a thing of the past. The wooden palings have been replaced with steel cable and electric fencing making for a safer environment which is much more open and accessible.

Tash Ryles, Keeper: "One zap to those sensitive lips and they won't go near the electrics again so it's very effective. It's all about making it much more visible for the people who come to Monarto."

And that means you can get much closer to an animal which sadly is endangered in the wilds of Africa, thanks to its most prominent feature - it horn.

Tash Ryles, Keeper: "Sadly these creatures are under threat because of their horns. A rhino horn, at a metre and a half in length - and believe you me they do grow that long - will fetch about $200,000 on the black market. People believe it's an aphrodisiac, it cures colds and flu and helps get rid of headaches. As long as people keep believing this it will keep happening unfortunately"

Today Monarto's breeding program plays a key role in re-stocking other zoos around the world. Meet Nibs, a two and half year old Rhino bound for Singapore. Tash remembers when he was born and was the size of a large dog. In little more than 24 months he's grown to what you see today.

Tash Ryles, Keeper: "Their growth rate is amazing. Partly because a full grown adult rhino doesn't really have any predators because not even lions can penetrate through their three centimetres skin. But of course rhino calves make a fantastic meal for a lion or a hyena so they grow dramatically to help with predators."

An adult male can grow to about three tonnes with have a top speed of about 30 kilometres an hour. Little wonder then that the rhino has little to fear except us. We can all play a part in supporting Monarto's breeding program by enjoying a special tour of the Rhino enclosure. They're available to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. To book contact 8534 4100 or log onto www.monartozoo.com.au

Monarto Zoo
Public tours Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
To book contact 8534 4100
www.monartozoo.com.au