Baby Chimpanzee Gets A Name At The Maryland Zoo

BALTIMORE, MD — The baby chimpanzee at The Maryland Zoo now has a name. Zoo officials said the new chimp will be called "Lola," in a name reveal announcement on Friday, Aug. 9.

Lola was born July 5 to first-time mother chimp Bunny.

The public was invited to help pick her name, and zoo staff pitched several options. Two were plays on her mother's name, and two came from languages in Africa, the native land of chimps:

• Afia — This translates to " born on a Friday," a Niger-Congo language.
• Kit — A baby rabbit is called a kit or a kitten.
• Lola — The female rabbit in Looney Tunes.
• Zalika — Swahili for "well born."

The zoo received more than 10,000 votes in the online survey, which ended Thursday, Aug. 8.

Staff captured the unveiling of the baby chimp's name Friday on video:

"We’re so happy she officially has a name now," Chimpanzee Forest area manager Pam Carter said in a statement. "Animal care staff will use individual names, especially during training sessions. The chimpanzees all recognize their own names as well as each other’s name."

Bunny was given her name because she was born on Easter; her birthday was April 15, 1990.

Lola, who is one of 13 chimpanzees at The Maryland Zoo, reportedly looks just like her mom. She weighs approximately 4 pounds and lives in the Chimpanzee Forest. Typically female chimps tend to grow up to be 80 to 100 pounds.

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