Help Name Baby Chimp At Maryland Zoo

BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Zoo wants the public’s help in choosing a name for a three-week-old baby chimp who made her debut at the zoo last week. To help pick a name, the public will get to vote on several options now through Aug. 8.

The baby chimp entered the world July 5, born to first-time mama chimp Bunny. In the weeks after, she and Bunny were in a behind-the-scenes area bonding and getting acclimated to their life together. Now, they spend a few hours a day in public view with a small group of chimps in the indoor section of the Chimpanzee Forest.

Zoo staff narrowed down a list of names for the baby chimp:

• Afia (pronounced ah-fee-ah) — Means “ born on a Friday,” from the ‘Ewe’ language which is a Niger-Congo language spoken in Benin, Toga and Ghana in Africa. Chimpanzees can be found in Ghana, but the population there, as in most areas, is in rapid decline due to habitat loss and over-hunting.
  
• Kit — In reference to her mother’s name. A baby rabbit is called a kit or a kitten.
  
• Lola — Another play on her mother’s name. Lola is the name of the female rabbit in Looney Tunes.
  
• Zalika (pronounced zah-leek-ah) — Swahili for “well born.” Swahili is spoken in multiple East and Central African countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo where chimpanzees are found.

In recent years, the zoo has also held naming contests for its baby penguin and baby giraffe, among other animals.

To help select the perfect name for the baby chimp, visit the Maryland Zoo website. Voting is open now through midnight on Aug. 8. Members of the public can vote once per day.

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• Baby Chimp At The Maryland Zoo Born To First-Time Mom
• Baby Chimp Makes Debut At Maryland Zoo