Toronto Zoo says public has chosen the name Nandu for Indian rhino calf

TORONTO – The Toronto Zoo says the public has voted and chosen the name Nandu for the zoo’s Indian rhino calf.

Nandu — pronounced None-do — means “one who is cheerful and happy.”

Three of the zoo’s keepers each chose a potential name for the male calf, but couldn’t agree on one so the names were put to a public vote which drew more than 11,500 responses.

Nandu was born on Feb. 17, and the zoo says he currently weighs more than 227 kilograms and is gaining about two kilograms a day.

It has now been introduced to the outdoors, has started to slowly eat some solid foods and its teeth are starting to grow in.

The zoo says the calf is important for Indian rhinoceros conservation as the species is listed as vulnerable and there are only approximately 2,000 left in the wild.

The Toronto Zoo is part of the Indian Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan, which aims to establish and maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations, and overall conservation efforts to save this incredible species.