CHESTER Zoo is calling for members of the public to help find a name for the bronze elephant, which was unveiled as a gift to the city of Chester.
From its new home on Northgate Street/St Werburgh’s Street, the 1m high elephant is symbolic of the links between the UK’s largest zoo and the city.
The survey to select the name for the female calf is now online and a list of possible names with Hindi origin have been put forward by the zoo’s team of elephant keepers:
Basanti: spring
Chandra: moon
Janya: life
Sunanda: sweet charactered
Sutara: holy star
Yuvati: young lady
Vishva: world
Eveline De Wolf, team leader of the elephant section at Chester Zoo, said: “It is fantastic to see that the bronze elephant has received such a warm welcome by both visitors and members of the public on the streets of Chester. We would really appreciate everyone’s support in finding a name for the bronze elephant and look forward to hearing what they choose.”
Rita Waters, chief executive of Chester Renaissance, added: “The elephant is a fantastic addition to the city. With the help of the Council and the zoo, we will soon be installing some interpretation panels to explain how the elephant came to be there.”
Renowned Hampshire-based sculptress Annette Yarrow, who also crafted the zoo’s bronze elephant that appears near the main entrance, drew on her experience of growing up in India to create the calf, which took her six months to complete.
To vote for your favourite name, please visit Chester Zoo’s website www.chesterzoo.org or www.chesterzoo.org/elephantnaming
