July 23--Brookfield Zoo has opened the polls for voting on the names for its Mexican gray wolf puppies, born at the end of May. One of the male puppies will bear the name Nestor, in honor of a wolf who used to reside at Brookfield Zoo. But the public is invited to vote from a short list of names for the three remaining pups, two males and a female.
The 8-week-old pups have passed their first wellness exams. Staff members of the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates the zoo, assembled a roster of names that have some connection with the Spanish language, the region that encompasses the species's natural habitat of Mexico and the Southwest United States, and a conservationist who has made a difference.
The nominees for the male puppies are:
--Coronado (the name given to a pack of wolves released to the wild)
--Hector (a common Spanish name)
--Aldo (the name of conservationist Aldo Leopold)
--Inigo (a Spanish name meaning "fiery")
--Chavo (a Spanish name)
--Fausto (a Spanish name meaning "lucky")
The nominees for the female pup:
--Magdalena (a village in New Mexico)
--Artesia (a city in New Mexico)
--Winona (means "first born daughter" in a Native American language)
The public can vote now through 5 p.m. Aug. 5 at czs.org. The names with the most votes for each of the three puppies will be announced Aug. 6.
Consider paying the Mexican gray wolf family a visit during regular zoo hours to see what names suit the pups as they explore their habitat at Regenstein Wolf Woods. They are almost weaned from their mother, Zana, and are spending more time with their father, Flint. Animal care specialists have been providing the puppies with whole prey items and dry kibble. In addition, both parents are regurgitating meat for the puppies.
Those interested in helping to provide top-quality food and expert care for the Mexican gray wolf family can participate in the Society's Share the Care program. A $35 donation will be rewarded with a 5x7 color photo of the wolf family, a personalized adoption certificate, a species fact sheet, a Share the Care decal, and an invitation to the exclusive Share the Care Evening in 2016 (ticket purchase required). For details see czs.org/sharethecare.
