On April 22, the Tulsa Zoo welcomed its very first litter of jaguar cubs and now these two male cubs need names! The Tulsa Zoo has put together a list of ten names that represent the jaguars’ geographic origin and rich Mayan culture and now we are asking YOU to help choose the best ones. The top two names chosen by the public will be given to the two rambunctious jaguar cubs.
Cast your vote here, then click on the link for the contest and choose your favorite two names from the list. Voting ends September 7 and the names will be revealed September 12, so cast your vote today and help the Zoo choose names for these two jaguar cubs! Also, be sure to visit the two fluffy felines in the Tropical American Rainforest exhibit.
The jaguar birth is exciting first for the Tulsa Zoo, but it’s also a big step for jaguar populations. With only 43 jaguars currently in American zoos, this recent birth was planned and pre-recommended breeding by the SSP, or the Species Survival Plan, which monitors and recommends breeding among particular species in
accredited zoos across the nation. Currently, jaguars are classified as “near threatened” due to their declining numbers, which continue to be affected by human-induced habitat destruction.
Tulsa Zoo expects to keep the jaguar cubs until they reach mature breeding age, which is approximately two years old. A future transfer will be managed and determined by the SSP, not the Tulsa Zoo, and will prove to be highly valuable to maintain jaguar populations in zoos.