A name has finally been chosen for the only Indian rhino ever born in Ireland - and one of only six Indian rhino births in any zoo in the world this year.
The now ten-week-old Indian rhino calf, born at Fota Wildlife Park is to be called 'Jai', meaning 'victory' or 'triumph', following a public naming competition which saw the park receive almost 1,000 suggestions.
Listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with 3,300 living in the wild, Jai was born on 19 September after a gestation peirod of 16 months, to mother Maya and father, Jamil.
The illegal trade of poaching rhino horn for traditional medicine poses the biggest threat to the species.
Jai, who weighed 60kg at birth now weighs over 165kg.
Lead Ranger Aidan Rafferty said they are delighted to see how well the baby rhino is thriving.
"Currently he's feeding from his mother Maya but he's also starting to pick at some grass and hay," he said.
He added: "A healthy rhino calf will put on about one to two kilos a day in weight at this stage of their lives. He's a very lively and inquisitive calf.
The male Indian rhino calf, born 19th Sept to mum, Maya and dad, Jamil, has been named as Jai, meaning victory. Jai is the only Indian rhino birth in Ireland ever & is one of only 6 Indian rhino births in any zoological institution in the world this year. https://t.co/0JI1XlXEZf pic.twitter.com/a2CSt9uA4J
— Fota Wildlife Park (@fotawildlife) December 1, 2022
"Visitors can usually get an opportunity to see him in the afternoons when he's outside in his paddock with his mother, generally running about and playing."
The name Jai was suggested by Cliodhna Kellegher from Co Leitrim.
"After much consideration we settled on Jai. The name really suits him, and he really is a triumph and victory for breeding success here at Fota, for the species conservation work we do and raising awareness about the loss of biodiversity worldwide."
