OKC Zoo Baby Elephant Cam And Naming Contest

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden needs your help naming the zoo's new female, Asian elephant calf. The baby elephant was born at 1:35 p.m. on Monday, December 22, weighing 332 pounds.

If you would like to help the zoo name the elephant, you can cast your vote by visiting www.okczoo.com, and choosing from a list of four names selected by the zoo's elephant care team.

12/22/2014 Related Story: OKC Zoo Celebrates Birth Of Asian Elephant

Voting will take place online through Friday, January 9, 2015. The winning name will be announced on Monday, January 12.

The four name choices are:

· Achara (A-ka-ra): Of Thai origin, meaning “pretty angel” and the zoo keepers' favorite.

· Biju (Bee-joo): Of Indian origin, meaning “awesome”.

· Divya (Div-ya): Of Indian origin, meaning “divine”.

· Sage: Of English origin, meaning “wise one”.

The new calf is the second elephant born at the zoo and the second offspring for 19-year-old mother, Asha. The father is 46-year-old Rex, the only male of the Zoo's herd. Asha gave birth to Malee, the first elephant born at the Zoo, on April 15, 2011. Malee's father, Sneezy, resides at the Tulsa Zoo. The herd also includes 18-year-old, female Asian elephant Chandra.

Both Asha and calf are healthy and bonding well. If weather permits (temperatures above 55 degrees and sunny), you may see the herd outside in the elephant yards from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

You may also watch daily activity on the zoo's “Elephant Cam” presented by News9 at www.news9.com/elephantcam. The Cam provides 24/7 live-streaming video of the new calf and its family from the elephant barn's indoor sand area. The elephants normally may not be visible from 8 – 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 – 5 p.m., while zoo keepers are giving daily baths, training, providing enrichment and cleaning.