Help Name the National Zoo's Andean Bear Cubs

PHOTO: One of the National Zoo’s Andean bear cub brothers, in need of a name. Photo by Connor Mallon, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

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Two Andean bear cubs at the Smithsonian National Zoo in DC need names and you can help. Voting continues through Sunday on what to name these two brother bears, born in November to mom Billie-Jean.

The names being considered are in Quechua and Aymara languages, from the Andean region in South America, the native habitat of Andean bears. Andean bears live in the outlying mountain ranges - from western Venezuela through the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, and ending in northwest Argentina, according to the zoo.

Here are the names you can vote on:

Bear #1 ”is rambunctious and seems to need Mom’s attention a bit more than his brother,” according to the zoo.

• Larusiri(lah-roo-SEE-ree): means “giggly” (Aymara)
• Mayni (MY-nee): means “unique” (Aymara)
• Kusisqa (coo-SEES-kah): means “happy” (Aymara)

Bear #2 “is playful and likes to wrestle but is more laid back than Cub #1,” the zoo notes.

• Tusuq (too-SOOK): means “dancer” (Quechua)
• Muniri (moo-NEE-ree): means “loving” (Quechua)
• Wayna (WHY-nah): means “young” (Quechua)

To vote, just visit the Smithsonian National Zoo Web site and vote here.