TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Zoo on Wednesday (Aug. 14) said it has named the newborn Malayan tapir calf, offspring of the late Moko and Moli, as Limuru.
The zoo held a weeklong naming contest for the calf, with choices including Mokoonba, Mocha, and Mofansheng, as well as the zookeeper's pick, Limuru. The latter won the contest with 3,547 votes, per CNA.
The name Limuru adheres to the zoo’s tradition of naming the calf with the last character of its mother's name. The last part of the name draws inspiration from a popular Japanese novel and manga character.
The zoo hopes the name Limuru will bring the calf a carefree life. It also symbolizes the calf's role in the zoo's conservation efforts.
Zookeepers say the calf is already learning to swim and showing signs of curiosity. They are excited to introduce the adorable mother-calf pair to the public once Limuru adjusts to its new environment.