The zoo asked and Tucson answered.
Everyone, meet Mapenzi — Reid Park Zoo’s baby elephant.
Last week, the zoo and the Arizona Daily Star ran a poll to help name the elephant calf who was born earlier this month. The zoo’s elephant care team came up with three names, all derived from Swahili.
More than 17,000 votes were tallied in the poll.
Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Mapenzi, which means beloved, took the gold with more than 7,600 votes. Amani, which means peace, trailed close behind with almost 7,100 votes.
Zawadi, which means gift, came in third.
The calf joins mom Semba, dad Mabu, sister Nandi, brother Sundzu, and Lungile, who zoo staff say is like an aunt to the younger elephants. All of their names also have ties to their native land, so the zoo wanted to continue the tradition with Mapenzi.
“All the names are really meaningful to us,” elephant supervisor Cassie Dodds said Monday. “And it’s meaningful for the community to help name her.”
“Mapenzi is just the perfect name for this little girl calf as she is beloved by all of her fans and the elephant herd alike,” director of zoological operations Sue Tygielski said.
Most of the elephant team was at the zoo when Semba went into labor on April 6.
“It was pretty amazing that we all got to be here and be part of that experience,” Dodds says, adding that it was a smooth birth.
Within seconds, Mapenzi — who weighed 295 pounds at birth and now weighs 315 pounds — was trying to stand up. She nursed in the first 30 minutes.
Although Mapenzi is less than three weeks old, she’s showing lots of personality.
“She’s doing everything that a healthy baby elephant should be doing right now and she has tons of playful energy and she’s very adventurous,” Dodds says.
Mapenzi also follows big sister Nandi around a lot. Nandi, 5, was the first elephant to be born in Arizona.
Although the zoo is currently closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Tucsonans can keep up with the elephant herd and all other animals at reidparkzoo.org or facebook.com/ReidParkZoo.
80+ photos of Tucson's baby elephant Penzi
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Penzi at almost a year old, weighing about 1,075 pounds.
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Penzi and Nandi spending time together.
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“She teaches us all to love and protect elephants,” said elephant supervisor Cassie Dodds, of Penzi.
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Although Penzi plays with Nandi the most, she's had good interactions with the rest of the herd. Pictured with Nandi here are Lungile and Semba.
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At 11 months old, Penzi is starting to get her tusks, her favorite food is cucumber and she still loves to play with her big sister Nandi.
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Penzi and Nandi are still close as ever, despite Penzi receiving etiquette lessons from Nandi in January.
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Penzi reached 1,000 pounds quicker than her sister Nandi.
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As a 10-month-old elephant, Penzi is starting to become more independent from her mom.
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Penzi continues to be social with the rest of the herd. This photo shows her with big sister Nandi and mama Semba.
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Penzi is now 10 months old and weighs 980 pounds.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with mom Semba, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with mom Semba, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with big sister Nandi, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with big sister Nandi, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with big sister Nandi, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
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Penzi is now 9 months old and weighs 900 pounds.
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Penzi is pictured here with aunt Lungile and big sister Nandi.
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Now 9 months old, Penzi is still as close as ever with her big sister Nandi.
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At 9 months old, Penzi enjoys creating muddy slip-and-slides with big sister Nandi.
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Mapenzi — Penzi for short — was born to African elephant Semba on April 6. She joined sister Nandi, dad Mabu, brother Sundzu and aunt Lungile at the zoo.
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Penzi likes to find things around her habitat to interact with — food to eat, a log to balance on or toys to play with.
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Now eight months old, Penzi is still close as ever with sister Nandi.
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Now eight months old, Penzi is still close as ever with sister Nandi.
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Though she’s growing more independent, Penzi loves her playtime with big sister Nandi.
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Tucson elephant calf Penzi is now 8 months old and 815 pounds.
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Elephant calf Penzi was born in April and is now tipping the scale at 735 pounds.
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Lately, Penzi has been loving hay, leaves and tree branches.
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Penzi’s current hobbies include eating and keeping up with the rest of the herd.
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Reid Park Zoo
A pesar de su creciente independencia, Mapenzi está interactuando y socializando más con el resto de la manada.
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Reid Park Zoo
Mapenzi -Penzi para abreviar- nació del elefante africano Semba, el 6 de abril. Se unió a su hermana Nandi, su padre Mabu, su hermano Sundzu y la tía Lungile.
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Reid Park Zoo
A los seis meses, la cría de elefante Mapenzi se ha convertido en una gran aficionada a la lechuga, el pepino y el heno.
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Born weighing 295 pounds, Mapenzi has doubled that five months later, now weighing 600 pounds. The Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, reopened at the end of August.
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Mapenzi runs through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Mapenzi picks up and chews on plants in her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, runs through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, walks through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Mapenzi (left), the four-month-old elephant calf, and her sister Nandi inside their enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, runs with the rest of her herd at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, gnaws on plants at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct,, on Aug. 25, 2020.
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, drinks water at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.
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Four-month-old Mapenzi enjoys hanging out with big sister Nandi. "She wants to be attached and learning everything Nandi is doing," said Reid Park Zoo elephant supervisor Cassie Dodds.
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This photo of Penzi was taken around her 4-month mark.
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At 4 months old, Mapenzi weighs 546 pounds. She enjoys eating beet pulp, which is the root of a sugar beet soaked into an oatmeal-like texture.
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Tucsonan will be able to again see the Reid Park Zoo’s elephants and other creatures starting Aug. 28.
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Penzi celebrated her 4-month birthday with her first dip into the mud wallow.
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Mapenzi, born April 6, is very social with the other elephants in the Reid Park Zoo herd.
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Penzi continues to be timid around deep mud wallows but she has started to creep up to the side. Reid Park Zoo staff creates smaller puddles for her.
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At 3 months old, Mapenzi — Penzi for short — is learning to come when Reid Park Zoo keepers call her and has voluntarily allowed staff to draw blood without giving any reaction.
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Penzi’s teeth have come in, so she’s been interested in eating bits of hay, grass and leaves. Her favorite food is lettuce.
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Two-month-old Mapenzi was born at Reid Park Zoo on April 6, 2020.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Two-month-old Mapenzi was born at Reid Park Zoo on April 6, 2020.
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Two-month-old Mapenzi can now put things in her mouth using her trunk.
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Reid Park Zoo’s baby elephant, Mapenzi, is learning to cool herself down in the mud wallows, though she is still a bit cautious.
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At 1 month old, Reid Park Zoo’s baby elephant, Mapenzi, is starting to use her trunk more accurately.
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Reid Park Zoo’s baby elephant, Mapenzi, turned 1 month old on May 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on Monday, April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on Monday, April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on Monday, April 6.
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Here's a shot of Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant, pictured with big sister Nandi and mama Semba.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zoo’s African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zoo’s African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zoo’s African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zoo’s African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
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Shelby Maerling, an elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Semba, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April.
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Shelby Maerling, left, and Savannah Beck, elephant care professionals, conduct their morning routine health checks on Samba, left, and Nandi, both African elephants, at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April. The sex of the calf is unknown.
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Semba, an African elephant, walks around her enclosure at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April. The sex, height or weight of the calf is unknown.
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Ann Forsberg-Doyle, a docent, keeps a watch on Semba, an African elephant, at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is pregnant and due sometime in mid-April. Her movements and behavior are recorded every five minutes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by staff and volunteers at the zoo.
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Martha Hendricks, left, and Ann Forsberg-Doyle, both docents, keep a watch on Semba, an African elephant, at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is pregnant and due sometime in mid-April. Her movements and behavior are recorded every five minutes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by staff and volunteers at the zoo.
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Shelby Maerling, an elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Semba, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April.
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Shelby Maerling, an elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Semba, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. With arm gestures, Maerling has Semba walk backwards. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April.
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Savannah Beck, a lead elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Nandi, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. Nandi's mother, Semba, is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April. The sex of the calf is unknown.
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Martha Hendricks, a docent, records on a tablet that Semba, an African elephant, was eating at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is pregnant and due sometime in mid-April. Her movements and behavior are recorded every five minutes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by staff and volunteers at the zoo.
