San Diego Zoo Launches Naming Contest For Sloth Bear Cubs

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Zoo is asking for the public's help in naming two sloth bear cubs.

The zoo launched a poll Tuesday to help decide the names of the cubs, which were born on Dec. 6 to first-time mother Shala.

The cubs, recently confirmed to be one male and one female, can be seen with their mother in their enclosure along the zoo's Upper Center Street.

Voters can choose between three name options per cub that were selected by zoo staff. The names and their meanings include:

Female cub:

• Nimala (nim-all-ah): Creative one
• Nimali (nim-all-ee): Independent one
• Shehani (sha-hahn-ee): Magic, shining, regal

Male cub:

• Kavi (kah-vee): Wise, a poet
• Rishi (rih-shee): Wisdom and profound knowledge
• Kumar (koo-mahr): Prince

Voting will be open through noon on April 1 on the zoo's website. The winning names will be announced on April 2.

Sloth bears, native to India, are a vulnerable species due to habitat destruction and poaching. The San Diego Zoo partners with India's Wildlife SOS sloth bear rescue facility, helping to fund conservation science and education programs.