A little white rhino calf recently born at a popular Scottish wildlife park has just been given an adorable Scottish name after a public vote. The female calf was born earlier this month at the Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling.
And after a short public vote, staff at the park are delighted to announce they have named her Morag.
Born on October 17 to mother Dot and father Graham, Morag is the sixth calf the pair have had at the park.
For the first two or three weeks, mum Dot and the baby are kept separate from the park's other female white rhino Tswane, with Morag eventually introduced to dad Graham next year to ensure the little one is fully accepted by the group.
Posting on Facebook, the keepers thanked people for voting and were delighted to let them know she'd now been named: "The results are in! Our newest white rhino calf is now officially called... Morag!"
Large mammal keeper Shonagh Bell said: "We’re delighted to welcome the latest addition to our family. Dot is proving to be a great mum once more, and the baby is already up and about. We are so proud of the work we do to safeguard the future of this iconic species and adding another little one to their number feels amazing."
Shonagh explained that Southern white rhinos are currently classed as Near Threatened after being brought back from the brink of extinction through a century of dedicated conservation efforts.
The species is now estimated to have a global population of over 20,000.
She added: "A hundred years ago they were already thought to be extinct! Here at the park, we’re part of the EAZA Endangered Species Breeding Program, which is an initiative designed to expand and maintain healthy rhino populations. Through this program, Dot and Graham have produced six calves who now live in safari parks and zoos across Europe."
Operations manager Dave Warren added that it was a privilege to be on hand to witness the birth, he said: "The birth was very straightforward, from her waters breaking to delivering the calf took less than two hours, we were slightly anxious as she came back legs first but there were no complications."
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