Last Chance to See Fota's Lion Cubs and Ireland's Only Indian Rhino Before They Leave Cork

Visitors to Fota Wildlife Park have a final opportunity to see three Asiatic lion cubs and a one-of-a-kind Irish-born Indian rhino before both depart for new homes in the coming weeks as part of international conservation breeding programmes.

The three lion cubs, Theo, Rakesh and Thor, were born in June 2024 to parents Arya and Yali. They will soon leave for Wingham Wildlife Park in the United Kingdom, where they will join the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria's Ex-situ Programme (EEP) for their species. Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) are classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only an estimated 500 to 600 individuals remaining in the wild, all in India's Gir Forest.

Also preparing to depart is Jai, the only Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) ever born in Ireland. Born in September 2022 to Maya and Jamil, Jai will transfer to Edinburgh Zoo as part of the species' own EEP. The Indian rhino is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with around 3,300 animals remaining across India and Nepal.

Both transfers form part of the coordinated international effort in which Fota Wildlife Park, a wildlife conservation charity, works with zoos across Europe and the UK to maintain genetically healthy populations of endangered species and support long-term global conservation goals.

Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9:30am. Those planning a visit this weekend will also have another attraction to look forward to: the Panoramic Wheel, located within the 100-acre park, opens this Saturday, 14 March. Further information is available at fotawildlife.ie.