Mulan or Bao Bao? US National Zoo asks public to pick name for giant panda cub (VIDEO)
A panda cub at China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, southwest China’s Sichuan province, Sept. 29, 2013.
The US National Zoo in Washington, DC, is crowdsourcing the name of its recently born giant panda cub.
Giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to the female cub on Aug. 23, which means it’s coming up on its 100th day of life, when zoos traditionally name pandas.
The zoo has asked Americans to vote for one of five Chinese names at Smithsonian.com. Voting closes on Nov. 22, and the name that gets the most votes will be announced on Dec. 1.
The choices are Bao Bao (Mandarin Chinese for precious or treasure); Ling Hua (darling or delicate flower); Long Yun (a name signifying luck for panda cooperation between China and the United States); Mulan (yes, the name of a Walt Disney character, but also of a 5th-century female Chinese warrior); and Zhen Bao (treasure, or valuable).
The cub is currently 8.14 pounds and a star on the National Zoo’s popular Panda Cams.
The baby panda will move to Wolong National Nature Reserve in China when she is four years old.
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