Fota Wildlife Park has welcomed a baby bison.
The five and a half week old female was born to father Hyssop and mother Blue on October 25th.
Lead Ranger Aidan Rafferty said “We are delighted to announce the birth of this baby bison. Once extinct in the wild, recently the species had a population regrowth in Eastern Europe. It brings meaning to everything we do here to be a part of this long-term conservation plan that has seen the European bison re-established in the wild from captive-born animals from zoological organisations. It brings to life, literally, exactly what zoos and wildlife parks are all about.”
Fota Wildlife Park has received an influx of donations and support from the public, visitors, annual pass holders and schools as a result of the recent ‘Save Dublin Zoo’ campaign which highlighted the difficulties faced by zoological facilities in Ireland.
The students of Mayfield Community School have organised a cake sale fundraiser for the care and feeding of the herd of European Bison which will take place in early December. The students there will be given an opportunity to name of the baby bison by sending in their suggested names to the Rangers at Fota Wildlife Park.
The baby bison’s name will be chosen from their list in late December.
