Two new southern white rhino males arrive at Mogo Zoo

There has been a bit too much testosterone flying around at Mogo Zoo in recent weeks.

Its thanks to the two new southern white rhinoceros that arrived at the zoo, near Batemans Bay, on Christmas Eve and have taken their time to settle into their new surrounds.

Half-brothers Kei and Jabari, both aged eight, each tip the scales around four tonnes each and are about 1.8 metres tall, which makes them the largest animals at the zoo.

Manager Paul Whitehorn said the move from Australia Zoo in Queensland had "upset the balance of power between the two" and they were being kept in separate enclosures for now.

"They're a little unsettled obviously, being in a new place, new environment, a long trip.

"They're settling in as well as can be expected, which is why we haven't released them to the public just yet.

"We want them to be as comfortable as possible before they have people around them."

Zoo staff are working to get them established before they open the new exhibit to the public on January 10.

Mr Whitehorn said the animals were generally quite placid but Kei, the dominant of the pair, had been "a bit pushy".

"They've had a couple of disagreements over dominance and territory," he said.

The zoo's full-time vet Sam Young said the rhinos would each play an important role in the endangered species' captive breeding program to maintain genetic diversity.

"The species is reducing in the wild and they're still under enormous pressure from poachers so it's very important to have assurance populations."

Mr Whitehorn said: "I would be thinking in the next five or so years we will be bringing some females in for the breeding program."

Mogo Zoo owner Sally Padey said taking on the African rhino through the Australasian Species Management Program was one of the biggest projects staff had embarked on in the zoo's 25-year history.

"To think that rhino were nearly hunted to extinction for its horn is unconscionable to me and Mogo Zoo will play any role necessary to ensure the ongoing conservation and preservation of this magnificent creature".

Dr Young said Kei and Jabari were generally quite placid and affectionate, but had quite different personalities.

"Kei as the dominant animal is a little bit more alert about what's going on in his surroundings, while Jabari's a bit more laidback."

Zoo staff are working to establish a regular feeding routine and training them to stay still so Dr Young can take blood samples and give them injections.

"There's been lots of interaction with us so they get used to a lot of interaction."

Once they're comfortable in their new exhibit, Kei and Jabari will spend their days chewing through almost 30 kilograms of oats, hay and lucerne each day and staff will give educational talks on the species.