In August 2025, Mom Kianga welcomed a baby girl chimpanzee, and we’re delighted to report that both mother and daughter continue to do well.
Now, we invite you to be a part of this special moment by helping us choose the perfect name for the newest member of the chimpanzee troop. The names you’ll see were carefully chosen by her dedicated animal care team.
At the Zoo, it has become a tradition to select names that carry meaning, often inspired by the animal’s parents. Her mother, Kianga, has a name that means sunshine—so our keepers chose names that reflect a similar theme of light, hope, and beauty.
We also honor chimpanzees in the wild by drawing inspiration from languages spoken in the regions where they naturally live. This gives each name a deeper connection to the species’ heritage and story.
The Potential Names Are:
Mkali (muh-KAH-lee): meaning bright
Mwezi (MWEH-Zee): meaning moon
Kamari (KAH-mah-ree): meaning moonlight
Amali (uh-MAH-lee): meaning hope
Ndanya (N-DAN-ya): meaning rainbow
Voting is open now through September 1, 2025. The winning name will be announced shortly after voting closes!
Thank you for being part of our extended Zoo family and for supporting our mission to inspire people to value and conserve our natural world.
