Dec. 16--Shedd Aquarium's newest male dolphin calf has a name. And it's Makoa (Ma-ko-ah).
Makoa -- meaning "fearless" in Hawaiian -- will be an ambassador for its species at Shedd, helping to raise awareness about the importance of animal care and conservation.
Nearly 3,500 votes were cast during the weeklong naming contest, and Makoa was the clear winner over Kolohe (Ko-low-hey), meaning "rascal."
The name was revealed Wednesday morning during a live broadcast from the aquarium's Secluded Bay habitat.
The calf was born June 1, 2015. He now weighs 108 pounds and continues to achieve important milestones, such as bonding with mom Piquet.
"Naming the dolphin calf is Shedd's way of welcoming him into the family, while also raising awareness about this fascinating open-water species that is extremely difficult to study in the wild," said Tim Binder, executive vice president of animal care at the Shedd.
