The Name Game

Often, the naming of a zoo animal - whether it's a new arrival from another zoo or a newborn - is left to the keepers and other staff.  Sometimes, however - especially in the case of very high profile animals (of which a baby Asian elephant would qualify) - it gets taken out of their hands... and into those of the public.  Naming contests are considered a great way (at least by marketing folks) to get the public interested and involved.  Usually they include a selection of pre-chosen names, the zoo's safeguard against spending the next fifty years or so with an animal called "Elephant McElephantface."

When these naming polls come out, it's not uncommon for the keepers to reach out to the broader keeper community and ask us to vote for a favored name, perhaps one that they suggested or that has some special meaning to them.  I always try to oblige, even if it's not my favorite choice.

In this case, some folks at Syracuse's Rosamond Gifford Zoo have suggested "Ajay" for the newborn baby elephant.  If you have feelings one way or another, feel free to check out the poll.


The zoo’s elephant keepers selected names that reflect the heritage of Asian elephants, which are native to Southeast Asia (Courtesy of Rosamond Gifford Zoo)

Enter your vote here!