Baby Cheetah and Labrador Receive Official Names

Busch Gardens wanted to let its fans to choose the name for their baby cheetah and the puppy Labrador.

Take a look:

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Busch Gardens Announces Winning Names For Baby Cheetah and Puppy

More than 2,400 Guest Votes Helped Name Young Cat and Yellow Lab Via Facebook Poll

Monday, April 18, 2011 (Tampa, FL) – Busch Gardens’ cheetah cub and his new puppy companion have been receiving plenty of attention recently, and now guests will have a name to put with the face.

PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

At noon today, the park closed a Facebook poll that went live Thursday, offering the public an opportunity to vote for their favorite of four names for each of the animals. This afternoon, the 8 ½-week-old male cheetah cub will officially be named Kasi, which is Swahili for “one with speed.” The 16 ½-week-old female yellow Labrador puppy will be named Mtani, Swahili for “close friend.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

The name Kasi received 44% of the 1,103 votes entered in the cheetah’s poll; Mtani received 51% of the 1,360 votes entered in the puppy’s poll. More than 100 Facebook fans also offered their own suggestions for names, from “Sugar and Spice” to “Will and Kate” in honor of the upcoming Royal wedding.

PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Guests were able to see the pair for the first time over the weekend during supervised visits in their new playroom at Jambo Junction. Kasi and Mtani will continue to live in Jambo Junction for the next several months. Eventually, they will live together in a large outdoor area near the Cheetah Run habitat and make regular “sidewalk” appearances in the park, helping the park’s education team to teach guests about the plight of cheetahs in the wild and the importance of Busch Gardens’ conservation efforts.

Cheetahs are included on both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of vulnerable species as well as on the US Endangered Species Act list of threatened species. Only approximately 12,400 cheetahs remain in the wild.

PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens supports the conservation of and education about cheetahs through the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, which has donated nearly $100,000 to cheetah efforts in Africa since 2005 and also helps fund conservation programs for white rhinos, marine animals and many other species around the world.

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We can't wait to see these two great guys on our next visit to the park!