Khao Kheow Zoo Welcomes New White Rhino Calf, Seeks Name
Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi celebrated the birth of a male white rhino calf on World Rhino Day, September 22, 2026. The zoo is letting the public vote on a name for the calf, with options such as Rotthai, Trailer, Tractor, and Backhoe, and offering cash prizes and souvenirs. Voting ends October 27, 2026, and the winner will be announced on November 3, 2026.
On October 20, 2026, Narongvit Chadchoy, director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo, revealed that the zoo had received the important news of the birth of a male white rhino calf, which coincided with World Rhino Day on September 22, 2026. The calf’s mother is Grietjie, aged 12, and its father is Sudi, aged 21. The calf is in good health but has not yet been given an official name. The zoo is asking the public and tourists to participate in a naming vote, choosing from the names Rotthai, Trailer, Tractor, and Backhoe. Voters have a chance to win a 2,000‑baht cash prize, a one‑year free admission pass to the zoo, or one of five rhino‑themed plush toys. Voting can be done via the Google Forms link https://forms.gle/nZFV6Cdf4Nboa3wc7 from today until October 27, 2026, with voting closing at 4:30 p.m. The zoo will draw a lucky winner from those who voted for the most popular name and will announce the result on November 3, 2026, on its Facebook page. The director added that the new calf is a sibling to ‘Power’ or ‘Tank’, born from the same parents, and is the third white rhino successfully bred at the zoo. The zoo now cares for six white rhinos—four males and two females. The calf remains in the nursery area under close veterinary supervision and is not yet on public display to ensure the mother and baby can bond safely. For more information, call 096‑974‑2546 or 038‑318‑444 ext. 213.
