Toronto Zoo asks public to name baby gorilla

The Toronto Zoo has a new baby gorilla and she needs a name — but it has to start with an ‘N’.

To celebrate the newest addition to the Western Lowland Gorilla Troop, the zoo is asking the public to help name the bouncing baby girl.

Born on Jan. 10 to mom Ngozi and dad Charles, the baby brings the number of gorillas at the zoo to seven.

Toronto Zoo is inviting people to visit its website to submit a name. African names are desired and each submission must start with the letter “N” because the facility has a tradition of naming newborns with the first initial from the mother’s name.

The contest closes April 22 and the winning name will be announced at the end of the month.

Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species and they are found in central Africa in the wild.

Toronto Zoo is a partner in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, an international conservation effort to prevent extinction.

Last month, the zoo announced the name of its male polar bear cub – Humphrey – after a similar online contest was held.

Agencies/Canadajournal