How many nicknames do you or your friends have for the elephant calf now? Our Zoo fans have been sharing plenty of name ideas on social media so far. But now, you have the opportunity to help name your calf!
Beginning Monday, September 16th, Zoo fans can officially submit their favorite names for the Calf Naming Contest presented by Norton Children’s. We are encouraging our guests and social media followers to suggest names via the Zoo’s website at — you should know it by now — LouisvilleZoo.org/Mikki. Important: we will only be accepting suggestions provided on our website.
The Contest Timeline:
-
- Sept. 16 – 29: Collect name submissions via the website until midnight, Sept. 29.
- Week of Sept. 30: Elephant care team to choose three names as finalists.
- Oct. 7 – 20: Invite Zoo guests and online visitors to vote for their favorite name.
- Week of Oct. 21: Announce the winning name.
- Oct. 21 and beyond: We can stop calling him “the calf” and call him by his new official name.
Once we have culled through the thousands of submitted names and have presented them to the elephant care team to choose three, the voting will begin. Guests visiting the Zoo may vote by dropping coins or bills into a naming kiosk located on the Zoo’s front plaza. New this year: voting will also be available online by way of donations made to support a favorite name (credit cards only). Suggested online voting donations start at $5, but voters may input their own amounts. The name with the highest donations wins. All proceeds from the naming contest will support the Zoo’s mission to “better the bond between people and our planet” by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in conservation education and action.
The person who submitted the winning name will receive a prize basket and a behind-the-scenes tour (for 5 guests) to see the elephant calf and Mikki. If the winning name is submitted by more than one person, there will be a random drawing of the entrants to determine the winner. The three finalists will receive prize baskets.
Want to learn more and submit your name? Click here for official contest rules and voting.