Photo courtesy Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo
The Woodland Park Zoo is kicking off a poll Aug. 4 to name this 2.5-month-old snow leopard cub.

Snow leopard cub needs a name

Starting Aug. 4, snow leopard fans will have the chance to help name the Woodland Park Zoo's 2.5-month-old male snow leopard through an online poll.

The poll offers four Mongolian names as options because Mongolia is one of 12 countries that is home to the endangered snow leopard.

The choices are Gobi for the Gobi Desert, Boke meaning "strong," Irbis meaning "leopard" and Vachir meaning "thunderbolt."

Those voters who are 18 or older can enter to win a prize package that includes snow leopard-related goods.

Vote for your choice of name by visiting www.zoo.org and clicking on “Name a Snow Leopard Cub.” The poll closes at midnight Aug. 12, and the winning name will be announced when the cub and its twin sister Batu make their debut at Snow Leopard Day Aug. 15.

The snow leopard cubs were born on Memorial Day to 4-year-old Helen and 3-year-old Tom. The cubs are currently not available to the public while they bond and nurse with their mother.

The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the high mountain ranges of central Asia and Russia. Snow leopard scientists estimate as few as 3,500 remain in the wild.

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