Four months after her birth, with more than a thousand suggestions submitted by the public, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has named its new lion cub just in time for World Lion Day.
On Aug. 10, the zoo celebrated the day with lion enrichment, story time at the Safari Amphitheater and the reveal of the cub's name.
With more than 1,000 suggestions to chose from, here's the name keepers picked.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium's lion cub has been named Kiazi, a name chosen from the 1,141 suggestions submitted by the public because of the cub's family history and her African heritage, zoo officials said in an Aug. 10 press release.
The name Kiazi is the Swahili word for "potato," paying homage to the cub's father, Hondo, who originally came from Idaho Falls Zoo.
"Since she is Hondo's first offspring and he is from Idaho, keepers loved the name," said Assistant Curator of Mammals Karen Vacco. "Hondo's little Idaho potato!"
For $5 per name, members of the public could submit their name suggestions for Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium's lion cub earlier this summer.
The zoo received 1,141 suggestions, totaling $5,705 in donations, zoo officials said. Those funds will go toward supporting the lions and the other animals that call the zoo and aquarium home.
After spending the past several months in an area behind the scenes with her mother, Scarlett, Kiazi can be seen out and about in her habitat as of Aug. 10.
Kiazi was born on April 5 to first-time parents Hondo and Scarlett.
Lion cubs are similar to domestic kittens at birth, in that they're born blind and their eyes open within about a week or two, the zoo said in a previous press release. They generally come into the world weighing about two or three pounds.
The new cub's arrival marks the first time Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has had a lion birth since July 2020, when lioness Abana mothered three cubs.
African lions are considered vulnerable, zoo officials said, adding that their population has decreased by 50% over the last 25 years because of habitat loss, loss of prey and conflicts between humans and lions.
African lions are one of the many species with an Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. This means that AZA community works collaboratively to develop and manage a genetically diverse, healthy, demographically varied population of lions outside of the wild.
"Every lion cub birth is vital to the long-term survival of the species, and each one represents hope for the future," Vacco said. "We hope Kiazi inspires zoo guests to learn more about lions and protect them in the wild."
Tickets to visit the zoo now through Sept. 30 cost between $25 and $36, depending on the specific ticket you opt for. Prices vary based on guests' ages and included experiences.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at [email protected]. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lion cub's name pays homage to heritage. See her now at Pittsburgh Zoo