New arrival is just a big baby

IT’S another week and another new arrival at Dublin Zoo.

After the recent birth of a litter of African Painted Dogs, zoo staff were celebrating again recently when a male calf rhino was born to mother Ashanti and father Chaka.

The youngster, who has yet to be named, arrived at 1.45pm on Thursday, August 25, and weighs approximately 60kgs.

The newcomer joins the rest of the herd – Sam, Reni, Chaka, Zanta, Nyala and of course his mother Ashanti – at the African Savanna.

The newborn is Ashanti’s fifth calf and another significant success for Dublin Zoo as part of the European Endangered Species Programme that was 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.

Children are now invited to suggest a name for the zoo’s newest arrival based on his African origin. Name suggestions can be submitted at www.DublinZoo.ie 

Helen Clarke-Bennet, team leader of the African Plains said staff were “absolutely thrilled” with the new arrival.

“Ashanti is an experienced mother and the birth was very relaxed,” she said.

“The mother and calf are bonding and will remain very close for the first year of his life.”

On September 24 and 25, Dublin Zoo will be hosting Rhino Awareness Weekend when visitors can learn about rhinos and the threats they face in the wild.

The family event will have lots of fun activities including face-painting, nail art and much more!

Dublin Zoo is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 6pm. For further information visit www.facebook.com/dublinzoo or www.dublinzoo.ie.