There has been another special arrival at Fota Wildlife Park, with the birth of an Indian rhinoceros calf — only the second of its kind ever born in Ireland.
The male calf was born on July 13th to mother Maya following a pregnancy lasting more than 16 months.
Senior Ranger Liam McConville said staff were “absolutely delighted” to welcome the healthy new arrival.
The birth is particularly significant given the rarity of Indian rhinoceros births in zoological parks, both in Ireland and internationally.
Fota Wildlife Park is also the only zoological park in Ireland where visitors can see Indian rhinoceroses, making the arrival an especially important milestone for the park”.
The young rhino is already showing plenty of character and appears to have inherited his mother’s love of water and mud.
Indian rhinos are renowned for wallowing in muddy pools and spending time in water to keep cool, and the youngster is already regularly rolling around in the muddy areas of his habitat.
For now, the calf is getting most of his nourishment from his mother, but he is beginning to explore his surroundings and copy Maya by nibbling on leaves and branches.
Visitors now have the chance to play a part in his story by helping to choose his name.
Entries can be submitted at the collection point in the Serengeti Shop at Fota Wildlife Park until September 13th. The winning entry will receive an annual pass to the park.
Fota is encouraging visitors to suggest names that reflect the Indian rhinoceros’ native range and cultural heritage.
Further updates on the calf’s growth and development will be shared by Fota Wildlife Park on its social media channels in the coming weeks.
Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30 am. See http://www.fotawildlife.ie for more details.
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