A southern white rhinoceros calf has been born at Dublin Zoo and is looking for a name.
The male calf, who has yet to be named, was born to mother Ashanti and father Chaka at 1.45pm on Thursday August 25.
The newborn is Ashanti’s fifth calf and is another significant success for Dublin Zoo as part of the European Endangered Species Programme established to assist the survival of the near threatened southern white rhinoceros.
With numbers as low as 50 left in the wild in the early 1900s, this subspecies of white rhino increased to become the most common of all the rhino species. However the alarming increase in poaching since 2008 threatens the rhinoceros population in the wild.
It is estimated that 20,000 of these animals exist in the wild, the majority are found in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya. Poaching for rhino horn is the most significant threat to the wild population.
Dublin Zoo financially supports the conservation organization Lowveld Rhino Trust, who are based in Zimbabwe and help protect rhinos from poachers.
The children of Ireland are invited to suggest a name for the newest arrival based on his African origin. Name suggestions can be submitted at www.DublinZoo.ie.