KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A Tennessee zoo announced the names for some of their newest residents, with park visitors and online supporters voting on the names for two red wolf pups and two bat-eared foxes.
Earlier this month, Zoo Knoxville voting kicked off after more than 700 names for each pup and kit were submitted by the public and then narrowed down to the top five by zookeepers. In total, Zoo Knoxville received more than 2,200 votes on the names.
The name selected by the public for the male red wolf pup was Copper, with the female red wolf pup taking the name Poppy. For the bat-eared fox kits, the male kit was named Chester, and the female was named Ember.
“Zoo Knoxville has always had a great deal of support from our community, and that’s why we wanted to give the public a chance to help name some of our newest arrivals. The response was incredible, and we’re thrilled to welcome these little ones with names chosen by the people who care about them most,” Zoo Knoxville said in a release.
Guests can visit Copper, Poppy, Chester and Ember at their habitats and watch them grow throughout the summer, the zoo added.
In April, Zoo Knoxville welcomed six red wolf pups, born to parents Buckeye and Cirilla on Earth Day. The species is known as the most endangered wolf species in the world, according to Zoo Knoxville. Terry Cannon, Curator of Carnivores and Kids Cove at Zoo Knoxville, shared previously that there are only about 20 red wolves that are known to be in the wild, and there are fewer than 300 in managed care.
Then, in May, six bat-eared fox kits were born at Zoo Knoxville. They were the second litter of kits from mother Motsumi and father Fern, who welcomed their first kit, Ziggy, in 2024. Although the species is not endangered, Zoo Knoxville said the species, which plays a vital role in controlling insect populations in 10 African countries, they are increasingly impacted by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. Annually, one bat-eared fox can consume more than a million termites.