Baby elephant at STL zoo named by voters
The results are in and voters have named the St. Louis Zoo's newest edition.
Nearly 54-thousand votes were submitted for the zoo’s “Name the Baby Elephant” poll and the name Priya emerged the winner with 15,777 – or 29.4 percent – of the votes. Runner-up was Willow followed by Violet, Cai and Harper.
Priya weighed in at 251 pounds when she was born at the zoo on April 26. She’s the third daughter for Ellie, and the fourth daughter for 20-year-old Raja.
Raja was the first elephant ever born at the St. Louis Zoo.
The zoo’s elephant care team initially selected five female names—Priya, Cai, Harper, Violet and Willow - and asked the public to vote for their favorites on the zoo’s website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts or through ballots submitted on site.
Runner-up Willow received 13,311 votes and Violet received 12,508 votes. Cai came in fourth with 7,006 votes and Harper 5,084.
Priya has yet to make her debut to the public.
Name the new baby elephant at the STL Zoo
There's a brand new baby in town and she needs a name! The St. Louis Zoo welcomed the bouncing 251 pound female elephant Friday night.
42 year-old Ellie, an Asian elephant, gave birth to a baby girl around 11 p.m. Raja, who fathered the calf, was the first elephant ever born at the St. Louis Zoo 20 years ago.
Starting today, you can cast your vote in the Saint Louis Zoo’s Name the Baby poll. The Zoo’s elephant care team was asked to select a few potential female names for the elephant. From now through midnight, Sunday, May 5, 2013, you can vote for your favorite name online.
The Zoo’s elephant care team was asked to select a few potential female names for the elephant. From now through midnight, Sunday, May 5, 2013, you can vote for your favorite name:
Cai (Pronounced “Ki”, rhymes with “Hi”) – means feminine
Violet
Willow
Harper
Priya (Pronounced “Pree-yah”) – means dear, beloved
Visit www.stlzoo.org, www.facebook.com/stlzoo, www.twitter.com/stlzoo and www.pinterest.com/stlzoo. You may also vote in person at both Zoo Welcome Desks or by mailing a “Vote for the Baby Elephant Name” postcard with your name, address and your desired elephant name to Name the Baby Elephant, Saint Louis Zoo, #1 Government Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63110.
The winning name will be announced on Monday, May 6, 2013.
The zoo's curator of mammals says both Ellie and baby are doing fine.
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