Winning name for male ocelot kitten revealed
UPDATE: VOTING IS NOW CLOSED.
After nearly 5,000 votes, the winning name with 1,661 votes is… Luca!
PREVIOUS ARTICLE NOW UP TO DATE:
As our male ocelot kitten continues to get comfortable with his new habitat, it’s about time we give him a name — and we’re asking our Buffalo Zoo community to help out!
Our animal care team chose five name options for our ocelot kitten:
The five options were:
- Paulo
- Bruno
- Copal
- Kusi
- Luciano (Luca)
After nearly a week of public voting, the winning name is… Luca! A huge thank you toe everyone who voted.
Learn more about the name, which is short for Luciano.
Luciano (Luca)
- Meaning: “Bringer of light” or “light”
- Origin: Latin (lux, lucis meaning “light”)
- Note: A timeless name associated with enlightenment, clarity, and warmth. “Luca” is a common diminutive.
Our ocelot kitten, born May 13 to mom Anahi (9) and dad Salvador (14), has shown positive signs as he continues to grow. Born at just over a ¼ pound, this beautiful boy is now over 5 pounds of pure pouncing and climbing muscle. Under mom’s watchful and overprotective eyes, he’s climbing, balancing, and showing off his newly developed skills behind the scenes. He is slowly being introduced to his exhibit and will have limited access daily, though Mom is still very cautious about his being out and about.
As highly adaptable nocturnal cats, this little one is most active in the late afternoon. When you see him, take note of his large eyes that are made for stalking and hunting in the night. That said, the only hunting this one needs to do is chase his favorite toys and balls as the keepers are keeping him active and stimulated with enrichment. As he soon makes his public debut, it’s important to recognize the hard work of our staff, who created a safe, positive environment for the kitten and Anahi every day.
While ocelots as a whole are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to their strong populations in Central and South America, there are major worries about their decreasing numbers in the southwestern United States due in part to habitat fragmentation and loss, road mortality, poisoning, and illegal hunting for their stunning fur coats.
