THEY are among the most threatened species on earth.

So there is a lot resting on Hampshire's newest resident Jabari's young shoulders - the future of his species.

The two tonne white rhino is the latest arrival at Marwell Wildlife, who has been brought with one job in mind - to breed.

If successful this would be the first rhino bred at Marwell in more than a decade.

Jabari will join the wildlife park's two female rhinos Kiri and Sula, both 29, in the brand new Wild Explorers enclosure.

Though unlikely to breed with them due to their age, the park hopes to also welcome a new young female rhino in the next couple of years.

The two-year-old has come to Marwell as part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme.

Given his weight, Jabari's journey from Dublin Zoo where he was born had to be carefully executed with both staff from his old and new home involved.

He was transported on a large lorry and then lifted by crane safely into his new home.

Although Jabari is living next door to Kiri and Sula they are yet to meet in the Wild Explorers paddock.

Keepers will gradually introduce them to make sure all the animals are happy and settled.

Visitors can currently see Jabari in his hard ground area or in his house.

Both Kiri and Sula have had offspring in the past, but when they were much younger and it was Sula who gave birth to Marwell's last calf Shaka in 2004.

It is thanks to the new enclosure that Jabari's arrival was made possible as it gives more space to accommodate a breeding pair to live alongside the other rhinos and allows them to be separated.

White rhinos are the second largest land mammal after the elephant.

The species is recovering from near extinction and there are currently 20,000 white rhinos living in the wild.

All five of the world’s rhino species are threatened by illegal poaching for their horns.

Rhino horn has been in demand for use in traditional medicines and for ornaments for centuries.

For two decades Marwell Wildlife has been involved in efforts to manage and protect the two African species; the browsing black rhino and larger white rhino.

Many white rhinos are now found within national parks and conservation areas with intensive protection zones.

But Marwell says these rhinos are still vulnerable and conservation efforts for this species must continue if it is to survive.

Marwell's Collection Manager Ian Goodwin said: “It’s great to have a new male rhino in our collection.

"Jabari is starting to settle in really well and appears to be very comfortable in his new surroundings.

“We have seen a positive reaction between him and our two female rhinos whilst they are living alongside one another, so we are really pleased.”