The spectacular arrival of Sonaï, a male Indian rhinoceros, at Beauval

It’s a big day for the Asian Plain at ZooParc! On Thursday 2 April, we enthusiastically welcomed a new, impressive resident: Sonaï, a young Indian rhinoceros with a bright future ahead of her.

A precious ambassador

Born on 29 December 2023 at Branféré Park, Sonaï holds a special place within his species: he was the only Indian rhinoceros calf born in Europe throughout the whole of 2023! His arrival is excellent news for this species, classified as “vulnerable” by the IUCN*, and is a concrete illustration of the efforts being made to ensure its conservation.

A promising future at Beauval

Now two years old, this young male is joining Beauval as part of the European Ex-Situ Programme (EEP). His role is crucial: he is set to meet new conspecifics, notably the females Henna (mother of little Neytiri, born on 2 January 2026) and Saathi (mother of Bahïs, born on 14 September 2025), in order to actively contribute to the long-term conservation of his species.

High-flying logistics for Sonaï

Sonaï’s arrival was marked by an impressive technical operation. To cover the final few metres to his new home, a crane was brought in to lift his transport crate and, inside it, a colossus weighing over 1.2 tonnes! Described as adventurous and curious by his keepers at Branféré, the young rhino nevertheless made the journey from Morbihan with remarkable calm.

Once on the ground, Sonaï was able to explore his new surroundings under the watchful eye of his usual keepers and the Beauval teams. This support is essential to help him settle in and prepare for future interactions.

Watch the video of Sonaï’s arrival at Beauval!

*International Union for Conservation of Nature