First ever baby Indian rhino born in Ireland — at Fota Wildlife Park

Congratulations to Maya and Jamil on their beautiful bouncing baby boy who's already running around and playing. And you could be the one to name him...

Fota Wildlife Park announced a first in its 39-year history and a first for Ireland; a baby Indian rhino was born on September 19, 2022, after a gestation period of 16 months, to mother, Maya and father, Jamil. Pictures: Darragh Kane

It's a first in Fota Wildlife Park's 39-year history and a first for Ireland: after a gestation period of 16 months, a baby Indian rhino has been born to mother, Maya and father, Jamil.

The yet unnamed male calf was born on September 19 and is the second of only three Indian rhino calves born in any zoological institution this year. The Indian rhino is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with 3300 living in the wild. The illegal trade of poaching rhino horn for traditional medicine poses the biggest threat to the species.