White rhinos are listed as a threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, due to years of poaching, a loss of habitat, and a low fertility rate. But China is increasing efforts to protect the large mammals. CGTN's He Weiwei has more.

Weighing nearly half a ton, "Da Zhuang" is only 9 months old. As China's youngest artificially-bred baby white rhino, he started group life in early April at a safari park in southern China's city of Guangzhou.

CHEN SIMING, WHITE RHINO KEEPER CHIMELONG SAFARI PARK "We chose this time to let him live in a group because he's now heavy enough. If a baby rhino is too small, he'll easily get hurt by adult rhinos. Now we see he fits in quite well."

There're around 20 thousand white rhinos in the world, with two kinds of breeds – the southern ones like Dazhuang; and the northern ones. The situation for the latter is difficult. In March 2018, the world's last individual male of the northern white rhinos died in Kenya, survived by only his wife and daughter. This ultimately puts the species on the brink of extinction.

Experts are trying IVF, or In-vitro Fertilization, to save the northern breed. But their efforts have come with little to no success. The least they can do for now is to focus on better protecting the southern counterparts. Now about 30 southern white rhinos live in Guangzhou. However, the reproduction rate remains low, as the species' pregnancy lasts as long as one and a half years. So far there've been four artificially bred white rhinos in the park, with Da Zhuang's father being the first.

CHEN SIMING, WHITE RHINO KEEPER CHIMELONG SAFARI PARK "Da Zhuang is the second generation of the artificially bred white rhinos, it's the first case in China, and that means big progress in terms of the species' reproduction. Next, he will learn from adult rhinos on how to behave and interact."

More good news is coming. Another two female rhinos in the park are now pregnant, and they're expected to give birth in late 2019, and early 2020. HWW, CGTN, GZ.