ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The first baby gorilla born at the Detroit Zoo in its nearly 100-year history officially has a name.
Read: Baby gorilla is born at Detroit Zoo, the first in its 96-year history
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The name was chosen through a contest in which fans could vote for their favorite name. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Detroit Zoo announced that Motema -- which translates to “heart” in the Lingala language -- has been selected as the historic baby gorilla’s name.
Voting required a $10 minimum donation per vote. All proceeds will benefit the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Gorilla Program. The SAFE program utilizes the collective efforts from zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to protect wild gorilla populations through on-the-ground protection of gorillas, research and monitoring, and targeted stakeholder engagement and education.
