Tucson’s new baby elephant now has a name: Meru.
Named after Tanzania’s Mount Meru, the month-old calf’s name was selected by community members who casted more than 19,000 votes for one of three options.
“Our team really fell in love with the name Meru for the calf,” Reid Park Zoo’s Director of Animal Care, Adam Ramsey, said in a news release. “She’s the fifth member of our herd, and Mount Meru is the fifth highest peak in Africa. We think it really suits her.”
The other two names in the running were Zalika, which means “well born” in Swahili, and Zuma, in honor of Nigeria’s Zuma rock formation.
The 300-plus pound baby has been described as playful, energetic and curious and she enjoys climbing over logs.
Meru is most visible to Reid Park Zoo visitors after 10 a.m., though the schedule fluctuates daily based on the herd’s needs.
To learn more or to check out zoo cams, visit reidparkzoo.org.
Changes ahead at the zoo
Reid Park Zoo is preparing to break ground on a new project dubbed Pathway to Asia.
The 4½-acre expansion is expected to take two years and will bring new animals including red pandas, Komodo dragons, and sand cats, a news release said. Tigers will also return to Tucson as part of the project.
A dedicated reptile house, an interactive aviary with exotic pheasant feeding and an indoor event pavilion are also part of the plan.
Reid Park Zoo is preparing to break ground on a new project, Pathway to Asia. The 4½-acre expansion is expected to take two years.
Pathway to Asia will be constructed in the zoo’s old parking lot.
Reid Park Zoo's big baby turned 1 month old on April 8. She's been enjoying the rain, playing with sister Nandi and exploring her habitat.
