JERUSALEM, Feb 7 — A zoo in central Israel yesterday announced the rare birth of a white rhinoceros, an endangered species.

Rami, a male, was born several days ago in the Ramat Gan zoological centre and safari park following an 18-month pregnancy, spokeswoman Sagit Horowitz said.

Rihanna, his seven-and-a-half-year-old mother originally from South Africa, mated with four-year-old Atari in the 100-hectare park.

Rihanna belongs to the southern white rhinoceros subspecies native to southern Africa, of which some 20,000 remain globally.

The white rhinoceros is threatened by poaching and a protection programme has been set up in Europe, a statement from the zoo said.

There are 14 rhinos in Ramat Gan, it added. — AFP