New Zealand's Director-General of Health says it's a "privilege" to have a rhino in Botswana named after him.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield on Tuesday emailed the managing director of Kiwi alcohol company Part Time Rangers to thank them for naming a baby rhino after him.
"Well that one came out of the blue, what a privilege!!"
Earlier this month, Part Time Rangers donated $38,900 to Rhinos Without Borders. The money donated will support the newborn for the first three years of life.
The donation allowed the company to choose the newborn's name, and last Thursday, it was announced the animal would be named 'little Ashley Bloomfield'.
Ashley Bloomfield rose to fame in the recent months, after he worked tirelessly with the government during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kiwis describe him as a "competent, calm, factual and reassuring man - exceeding in his role".
"Thanks for the honour and I do hope AB junior thrives under the protection your donation has afforded her," he told Part Time Rangers.
"As my boss the States Services Commissioner said in a txt to me, 'this is as good as it gets' and this should nicely round out my CV," he added.
