Chonburi:Khao Kheow Open Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a healthy male white rhino calf. The zoo is engaging the public by organizing a naming contest, offering participants a chance to win cash prizes and souvenirs.
According to Thai News Agency, the calf was born to 12-year-old mother Grietjie and 21-year-old father Sudi. The zoo has proposed four potential names for the calf "Rot Thai" (tractor), "Trailer" (trailer), "Tractor" (tractor), and "Backhoe" (backhoe). Participants in the naming contest have the opportunity to win special prizes, including a cash prize of 2,000 baht, a free one-year pass to the zoo, and five rhinoceros plush toys as souvenirs. The results of the contest will be announced on November 3, 2026, via the zoo's Facebook page.
The zoo's director noted that this new male calf is the sibling of "Power" or "Rodtang," also born to Grietjie and Sudi. This marks the third successful breeding of a white rhino calf at the zoo. Currently, the zoo is home to six white rhinos, comprising four males and two females. The newborn is being kept in the nursery area under the careful watch of veterinarians and staff. For safety reasons and to allow time for the mother and calf to acclimate, the enclosure is not yet open to visitors.