Fota Wildlife Park Welcomes Rare Indian Rhino Calf

Fota Wildlife Park has announced the birth of a male Indian rhino calf, born on 13 July to mother Maya and father Jamil. He is only the second Indian rhino ever born in Ireland, and the second in the Park's history.

The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), also known as the greater one-horned rhino, is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated 4,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

The birth follows a strong run of conservation breeding successes at Fota, including critically endangered Sumatran tiger cubs and a Nubian giraffe, endangered Asian lion cubs and a François' langur monkey, and near threatened European bison calves. The Park also recently recorded its first white-tailed sea eagle fledgling in a decade, a species once extinct in the wild in Ireland.

Maya, aged 13, was born in Rotterdam Zoo and arrived at Fota in early 2020 as part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP), from the Botanical Garden Branfér in Nantes, France. Jamil, also 13, was born in ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the UK and came to Fota in June 2015. Both rhinos weigh approximately two tonnes each.

Liam McConville, Senior Ranger at Fota Wildlife Park, said:

"We were all absolutely delighted when Maya gave birth on the 13th of July to a very healthy calf after the gestation period of over 16 months. This is Maya and Jamil's second calf, and because Indian rhino births are so rare in zoological organisations, both in Europe and around the world, it's a one [sic] we're incredibly proud to celebrate. We're also the only zoological park in Ireland where visitors can see this remarkable species, making this birth even more special.

The greater one-horned, or Indian, rhinoceros was once pushed to the brink of extinction due to hunting and the illegal poaching of its horn. Although the species remains vulnerable, every birth plays an important role in raising awareness of the need to protect these incredible animals.

The young male calf is doing exceptionally well. Maya has been a fantastic mother and is incredibly protective of him. We've been keeping a close eye on both of them, and she rarely lets him stray too far while he explores the habitat. During the recent warm weather, we even saw her gently guide him back into the shade whenever she felt it was getting too hot.

Indian rhinos are well known for wallowing in mud and spending time in water to keep cool, and it's already clear this little calf has inherited that instinct. He absolutely loves rolling around in the muddy patches of the habitat. At the moment, he's still getting most of his nutrition from nursing, but he's already beginning to imitate his mum by nibbling on leaves and branches as he develops."

Native to the grasslands and floodplains of northern India and southern Nepal, the species has recovered from the brink of extinction through intensive conservation management by Indian and Nepalese authorities, though habitat loss and poaching for the illegal rhino horn trade remain ongoing threats. The Indian rhinoceros is the largest of Asia's three rhino species; five rhino species survive worldwide, two native to Africa and three to Asia.

Visitors are invited to help name the calf, with entries accepted at a collection point in the Serengeti Shop until 13 September. Submissions reflecting the species' native range and cultural heritage are encouraged, and one winner will receive an annual pass to Fota Wildlife Park. Further updates on the calf's development will follow on Fota's social media channels.

Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30am. More details are available at fotawildlife.ie.