UPDATE: Maria the Goose Is a Guy!

Earlier this week, we learned that Maria the Goose had left the shores of Echo Park Lake for sanctuary in the

Now zoo experts have decided that Maria is in fact a male--a gander.

And Mario is what her friend and equally famous benefactor, Echo Park resident Dominic Ehrler, said he will call her.

Unless she won't answer.

"Actually, I don't think Mario/Maria cares," said Ehrler in an e-mail to Echo Park Patch. "If he doesn't answer, I'll stick with Maria."

"Maria is a common middle name for males in many cultures," added Ehrler.   "Maybe he needs a first name, and we'll call him by his middle name, like Carlo Maria."

L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti told Echo Park Patch that, if needed, he suggests "Angel" after the city of Los Angeles.

Garcetti's office broke the news to Ehrler Thursday after zoo director John Lewis made the final call.

But,  apparently, Ehrler had always had questions about Maria's real gender.

According to his e-mail, it is not easy to "determine the sex of domestic geese, since they appear and behave the same way."

Ehrler, of course, visited Maria daily at the Lake, feeding her tortillas and racing up the street with her  next to his scooter.  He has special visiting privileges at the zoo--at least until she is moved to public viewing area.

Maria was moved to the zoo last Friday. Many locals were relieved, fearing fame and the imminent restoration of the park would put her at risk.

Echo Park Lake birder Judy Raskin said she thinks the animal, despite his love for humans, will be happy in the zoo, especially if he's with other birds.

"Geese are always part of a flock," she said. "I think the word for it is a gaggle." 

Ehrler said tentative plans are for Mario/Maria to  "be alone" at the zoo, in a pen with a low fence.

He said he would like to see a "companion for Mario" but "he should not be lonely as long as zoo visitors dote on him like" they did at the park.

 Mario/Maria is slated to return to the Echo Park Lake once the restoration is complete, in about two years' time.