Watch: Help name roaring lion cubs at Oregon Zoo
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo's 3-week-old lion cubs are ready for names and the zoo is asking for your help voting on them.
The three cubs, two females and one male, are walking now. Zoo keepers said they are doing well.
"The little ones are up to around 9 to 10 pounds each, and they have started walking around and exploring," said keeper Laura Weiner. "They still look like little fluff balls, but they are feisty and energetic — they'll wrestle and bat at each other when they're on the ground."
Zoo staff has been referring to the cubs by the numbers 6, 7 and 8. "We think it's time to give them names that suit them," said Weiner.
Zoo staff picked two potential names for each cub and they are asking for the public to vote on them. Here are the choices:
Cub No. 6 (male) — Keepers chose one name derived from the Igbo people of Nigeria, a country where lions once were plentiful but now are nearly extinct.The two names are:
Ngozi: an Igbo name meaning "good fortune" or "blessing"
Hasani: a Swahili name meaning "handsome."
Cub No. 7 (female) — She was initially the largest of the cubs, though her brother and sister have caught up, according to keepers, who have selected the following:
Mashavu: Swahili for "chubby-cheeked
"Sanura: Swahili for "young cat" or "small cat."
Cub No. 8 (female) — Keepers have narrowed their name choices to the following:
Kioni: a Swahili name meaning "the one who sees"
Niara: a Swahili name meaning "one with high purpose."
Votes will be accepted through Thursday, Oct. 9 on the Oregon Zoo's website. The zoo will announce the winning names on Oct. 10.