Seek ‘enlightenment’ at Fota!
Fota Wildlife Park's male Indian rhinoceros calf has been named Bodhi which means ‘awakening’ or ‘enlightenment’ after a competition.
The name Bodhi, of Sanskrit origin,’ was suggested by AJ Carroll from Co. Waterford. AJ's entry was selected from hundreds of suggestions, winning his family an annual pass to Fota Wildlife Park.
Born on 13 July to mother Maya and father Jamil, Bodhi is only the second Indian rhinoceros ever born in Ireland, a significant birth which marks the wildlife attraction’s ongoing commitment to global wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
The Indian rhinoceros, also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros, is classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated 4,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
Bodhi's birth follows an extraordinary summer of conservation breeding successes at Fota Wildlife Park, including the arrival of a Nubian giraffe calf called Fiadh, two Asian lion cubs, a François' langur monkey, two Sumatran tiger cubs, two European bison calves and two Kafue lechwe calves.
Alongside the recent animal arrivals, Fota Wildlife Park will host a programme of family-friendly Halloween activities during the October midterm.
From Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, families visiting the park can take part in a Halloween poster trail inspired by the púca, the shape-shifting creature of Irish folklore.
The mischievous púca has taken on the forms of different animals throughout Fota Wildlife Park. Visitors can follow the Púca Trail, made up of posters with riddles and clues dotted around the 100 acre park, identifying each animal form before uncovering the final animal disguise. Once they have solved the mystery, participants can submit their answers at the Serengeti Shop to be in with a chance of winning a Fota Wildlife Park Conservation Annual Pass.
Fota Wildlife Park's award-winning education team will also host The Science of Samhain, a public engagement event taking place at the Education, Conservation and Research Centre from 11am to 4pm, Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November.
The interactive event will feature Halloween themed arts and crafts, educational stands and opportunities for visitors of all ages to discover the fascinating real-life science behind some of our favourite Halloween related species and myths.
Visitors can also step into the auditorium for a spooky storytelling experience, twice daily from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November at 12.30pm and 1.30pm, with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. Face painting will also be available in the Atrium from 12 noon to 2pm, Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November.
In addition to the mid-term activities, visitors can learn more about the animals cared for at Fota Wildlife Park through the Park's daily animal feeding times schedule.
Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30am. For further information and to book tickets, visit www.fotawildlife.ie.