N.Y. Penguin Chick Has a Name and The Winner Is…Alberto

It’s a boy. And the Penguin Posthas learned Humboldt penguin chick has a name after a contest that drew international attention to an upstate New York zoo. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse says ‘Alberto’ topped the online voting for 10 finalist boy and girl names before the chick’s gender was determined. The zoo says Friday about 1,100 suggestions came from 21 countries, 38 states and the District of Columbia. Spanish names got preference in choosing the finalists because the birds breed off Peru and Chile. Alberto hatched Jan. 9, the 30th Humboldt born since a breeding program started in 2005. Zoo officials said 2,040 votes were cast. “Alberto” received 264 of the 998 votes cast for a boy’s name, said Lorrell Walter, speaking for the zoo.

Alberto

He’s the first of six this year. Kristy Lee Witt of North Syracuse had the winning entry, which means “noble and bright.” Her son Albert was born Feb. 1.

Name That Penguin Contest

The Penguin Post has learned that penguin lovers from around the world have been flocking to an upstate New York zoo’s name the penguin part of their website to help name a Humboldt penguin chick hatched last month. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse has released the top 10 girl and boy names from among 1,100 suggestions offered from the U.S. and a list of countries including Germany, Brazil, Singapore, Ecuador and Finland. Because the Humboldts breed off Peru and Chile, judges gave Spanish names a preference. The finalists? Alberto (all-BER’-toh), Caio (KAYE’-oh), Fausto (FOWS’-toh), Inigo (in-EE’-go), Mauricio (mohr-EETS’-ee-oh), Cataleya (cot-uh-LEH’-uh), Eva (EH’-vuh), Hota (HO’-tuh), Isabelita (ees-UH’-buh-lee-tuh) and Solana (so-LAW’-nuh). Zoo spokesman Lorrell Walter says Thursday they made two lists because the chick’s gender hasn’t been determined. The little penguin hatched on Jan. 9, the first of six this year and among 30 born since a breeding program started in 2005. Votes on the finalists are due by Feb. 16.

Name That Penguin Baby Competition in Upstate N.Y.

Hatched on March 27, this Humboldt penguin still has no name. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is holding a contest to name the penguin, one of nine hatched at the zoo this spring.

Syracuse, NY — There’s a baby penguin at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park and the Penguin Post has learned that he needs a name.  If you’ve got an idea for one, you’ve got until May 20 to send your suggestion to the zoo.  For the second time in two years, the zoo is offering the public a chance to name a penguin. The firstborn of this year’s nine penguin hatchlings is a male, said zoo spokeswoman Lorrell Walter.Same penguin, displaying dancing ability.Last year, the zoo got 379 suggestions. Already on Tuesday, hours after the contest had been announced, entries were flooding into the zoo, Walter said.  Last year, the winning name came from Ashley Redhead of Bridgeport. The 15-year-old suggested “Marisol,” a combination of Spanish words that translates to “sunny sea,” Walter said.  Walter said contestants would do well to consider a Spanish name again this year. The nine new Humboldt penguins are native to Spanish-speaking Chile and Peru. All the Humboldts born at the zoo have Spanish, or Latin-derived names, said Walter. There’s a Jake, but he – and the name – came from another zoo.  “If people want a shot at winning,” Walter said, “they really should make sure it has a Latin influence.” Plus, she said, “be a little creative.”  Suggestions can be e-mailed to contest@rosamondgiffordzoo.org. They’ll be whittled to five by a zoo committee. Those five will be posted online for voting from May 24 to May 31.   A winner will be announced at the June 3 and the winner will be named the adoptive parent of the penguin for a year and receive a VIP tour of the zoo.