WASHINGTON — The National Zoo’s 19-week-old Andean bear cubs have names after people voted for their favorites.
One cub is named Mayni (MY-nee), which means “unique” in Aymara.
The other is named Muniri (moo-NEE-ree). In the Quechua language, than name means “loving.”
The zoo asked for people to vote ahead of the cubs’ public debut Saturday, March 28.
The choices for Cub 1 were the following:
- Larusiri (lah-roo-SEE-ree): This name in the Aymara language means “giggly.”
- Mayni (MY-nee): This is an Aymara word that means “unique.”
- Kusisqa (coo-SEES-kah): This word in the Aymara language means “happy.”
The choices for Cub 2 were the following:
- Tusuq (too-Sook): This is a name in the Quechua language that means “dancer.”
- Muniri (moo-NEE-ree): This is a name in the Quechua language that means “loving.”
- Wayna (WHY-nah): This is a Quechua word that means “young.”
The zoo says the names reflect the cultural significance of Andean bears to the Quechua and Aymara, the indigenous communities of the Andes region, their native habitat.
The names are important, especially since keepers at the zoo have started training the bears, teaching the brothers behaviors that will help animal care staff evaluate their health.
Andean bears, which are known to be loving and happy, are said to protect travelers, in particular musicians and dancers, during their pilgrimage to a festival held high in the Andes mountain near Cusco.
The winning names were announced live on ¡Despierta America! and at a media event Thursday, March 26, at the Andean bear exhibit.
“This is the first time we’ve had a pair of male cubs, and already we’re seeing them wrestle, pounce on and play with each other much more than our previous litters,” says Karen Abbott, animal keeper, about the bears born Nov, 10 and Nov. 11.
In the past 10 years, three of five Andean bear cub litters born at North American zoos were born at the National Zoo.
