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Mom picks name for baby elephant

 
Matjeka made a beeline for the treat pile labeled Mavi, thus picking her calf's name.
Matjeka made a beeline for the treat pile labeled Mavi, thus picking her calf's name.
Published Aug. 20, 2013

TAMPA – Say hi to Mavi.

Lowry Park Zoo's newest elephant, a 3-week-old calf, has a name chosen by her mom, Matjeka.

Mavi is a Swati name meaning "voices." Matjeka chose the name after the zoo's elephant care team prepared two treat piles of hay, produce and names spelled out using carrots. Majeka showed no hesitation, calmly striding to the pile labeled Mavi and digging in.

Previously, the zoo's elephant care team selected five Swati words starting with the letter M in honor of mother Matjeka. Those five names were posted online for the community to vote. More than 1,110 votes were submitted with the two highest — Mavi and Mngani — becoming the finalists.

Mavi is the second elephant calf born in Tampa from a herd of 11 elephants rescued from culling in Swaziland and brought to the U.S. a decade ago.