No more numbers for Riverbanks' cubs

COLUMBIA - The votes are in, and the pedigreed African lion cubs that were born at Riverbanks on June 7, 2008, now have official names.

The cubs, which keepers have fondly referred to by number (based on their birth order) for the past eight weeks, will now be known as Johari, Chuma, Jasiri-Congaree and Lina.

The names for cubs one, two and four are a result of an online contest. Members of the community voted at www.riverbanks.org for their favorite name from a pool that was selected by the Riverbanks animal care staff.

The animal keepers developed a list of names that connected the cubs to their African heritage and also provided a strong representation of their individual personalities. Cub number one will now be called Lina, which signifies tenderness; cub number two will be known as Chuma, representing iron or strength; and cub number four's new name will be Johari, which means jewel or valuable.

The newly named cubs join littermate Jasiri-Congaree, formerly cub number three. WIS-TV's Judi Gatson and Craig Melvin named Jasiri-Congaree on Friday, July 25. Jasiri means bold or daring and Congaree incorporates the cub's South Carolina heritage.

There is still one more cub to be named, but cub number five (born on June 13, 2008) will have to wait just a bit longer. His naming rights will be auctioned off on October 11 at this year's annual Riverbanks ZOOfari, the zoo's premier fundraiser.

All five cubs have been on display in the Bird Conservation Center, but have been were moved back to the lion holding area because they had outgrown their temporary nursery. Visitors can look forward to seeing all five cubs on the main lion exhibit this fall, once the cubs receive their final round of vaccinations.