Web Users to Choose Name of Mexico Zoo's Newest Zebra

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Environmental authorities on Friday invited Web users to choose the name of a newborn zebra at the Mexican capital's San Juan de Aragon zoo.

Voters have until March 19 to vote for one of three Nahuatl names posted on the Web site of the Federal District's Environment Secretariat: Pakki (happy), Yamanki (gentle) and Isel (unique), that agency said in a press release.

Pakki leads with 50 percent of the 232 votes cast thus far, while Isel and Yamanki have received 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

Visitors to San Juan de Aragon can view the newborn Grant's zebra, which was born on Thursday, in the zoo's grasslands area.

This species of zebra, which inhabits an area of East Africa stretching from the southern parts of Sudan and Somalia to western Zambia, can grow to 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) in length and 370 kilograms (815 pounds) in weight.

San Juan de Aragon, one of two Mexico City zoos along with Chapultepec, was founded more 50 years ago and currently is home to 626 animals representing 129 species. EFE