Zoo Atlanta Prepares to Announce Giant Panda Cub's Name December 8

After more than three suspenseful weeks collecting ballots from over 22,400 excited voters, Zoo Atlanta will announce the new giant panda cub’s name on Monday, December 8, 2008, at his 100 Day Naming Celebration. Voting to name the 3-month-old bear opened on November 3 and
will close on Wednesday, December 3.

Voters flocked to zooatlanta.org to make their selections from 12 names submitted by the Zoo Atlanta family and extended family. The contenders represent Zoo staff; Zoo Members; the Zoo’s MySpace community; residents of Chengdu, China; and five local radio stations. The most dedicated of the cub’s fans also voted in person, casting their ballots at 12 polling locations outside the Zoo’s Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center. The individual or organization responsible for submitting the winning name will win a private reception for 50 at Zoo Atlanta and an exclusive viewing of the cub.

The cub’s name will be unveiled at approximately 11:30 a.m. on December 8 on Zoo Atlanta’s Grand Patio, and members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend. The historic event will also feature live performances by Chinese artists, refreshments and an appearance by Zhu Zhu, Zoo Atlanta’s giant panda mascot.

Born on August 30, the cub was the only giant panda to be born in the U.S. in 2008. He is the second offspring of Lun Lun and Yang Yang and the younger sibling of the world-famous Mei Lan, born on September 6, 2006. Zoo Atlanta expects the new addition to make his official public debut in January.

Images, video and live PandaCam peeks of the cub are currently available on zooatlanta.org.

The 100 Day Naming Celebration is free for Zoo Atlanta Members and children under 3; free with general admission.

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Voting Now Open to Name Zoo Atlanta's Giant Panda Cub

Atlantans who did their civic duty on Election Day now have a second ballot to cast. Voting to name Zoo Atlanta’s new giant panda cub officially opened on Monday, November 3 on
zooatlanta.org. The only giant panda born in the U.S. in 2008, the 2-month-old cub had already garnered more than 2,400 ballots in the first day of voting.

Twelve final names represent the Zoo Atlanta family and extended family, with contenders from Zoo staff; Zoo Members; the Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors; Zoo Atlanta’s MySpace.com community; the residents of Chengdu, China; and five local media outlets:

Xiao Laoxiong “Little buddy” Giant panda keepers
Xiao Nan “Little man” Zoo Atlanta Staff
Hua Sheng “Peanut” Zoo Atlanta Members
Xi Lan “Atlanta’s joy” Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors
Wei Sheng “Greatness is born” Zoo Atlanta MySpace Community
Shu Shu “Kind and gentle” B98.5 FM
Wei Li “Large and strong” 92.9 Dave FM
Ling Li “Alert and quick” VIVA 105.7 FM
Shen Shi Lan “Atlanta’s gentleman” Star 94 FM
Li Lan “Atlanta’s strength” V103 FM
Fu Mei “Handsome and happy boy” Chengdu, China
Mei Chuan “Handsome Sichuan boy” Chengdu, China

Giant panda fans may vote online on zooatlanta.org or cast a ballot in person at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center at Zoo Atlanta. Voting ends at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3. The cub’s name will be unveiled during the cub’s 100 Day Naming Celebration on December 8.

The individual or organization responsible for submitting the winning name announced on December 8 wins a private reception for 50 at Zoo Atlanta and an exclusive viewing of the cub, who is expected to make his public debut in January 2009. Images, video and live PandaCam peeks at the new arrival are available on zooatlanta.org.

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