Little Rock Zoo to Reveal Baby Orangutan Name

LITTLE ROCK (August 28, 2019) – On Saturday, August 31, 2019, at 1:30pm, the Little Rock Zoo will reveal the name of the new female baby orangutan  chosen by public vote .  The name reveal will take place at the top of Great Apes this Saturday.    

The public is invited to vote by online poll available at the Zoo’s website and Facebook page.  The voting will end Friday, August 30, 2019 at 5pm.  The Zoo keepers have selected four (4) names from which to choose.  The choices are the following:  1) Kasih (pronounced KAH-see)  (Malay), which means love; 2) Markisa (pronounced Mark-KEE-suh) (Malay), which means passion fruit; 3) Sabah (pronounced SA-bah  (Malay), which is the name of the state in northern Borneo where orangutans are found ; and 4) Madu (MAH-do) (Malay) which means honey.  

Her birth came at the recommendation of the Orangutan Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a program that cooperatively manages orangutan species in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to further conservation goals. This SSP Program coordinates species conservation, research, husbandry, management and educational initiatives. The Little Rock Zoo also participates in the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program for orangutans. AZA SAFE programs combine the collective strength of AZA organizations to help save species in the wild.  

About the Zoo

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit www.aza.org.

For more information on Little Rock Zoo, visit www.littlerockzoo.com or call 501-661-7208