Media Release
From the Minister for Environment & Climate Change

Thursday, 25 February 2010

Melbourne Zoo's baby elephant has a new name thanks to the overwhelming number of Victorians who voted for Mali.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings announced the winning name of the Zoo's cutest addition which won 23,143 votes out of the 34,325 votes cast - a strong 67 per cent.

"I am pleased to announce that Melbourne's new baby elephant has a new name - Mali, which means jasmine in Thai," Mr Jennings said.

"Little Mali has captured the hearts and minds of Victorians who have flocked to see her in the past couple of weeks since she went on public display.

"Victorians will be able to watch her grow like proud parents and later this year will be thrilled all over again when she is joined by a playmate when another of the female Asian elephants,  Kulab, gives birth to Mali's half brother or sister.

"The name Mali continues the practise of naming the female elephants in this herd which have come from Thailand along a botanical theme.

"Mali's mother, Dokkoon, is named after Thailand's national flower while Kulab means rose. Another of the elephants is named Num-Oi which means sugarcane juice."

Melbourne Zoo's Bull elephant, Bong Su, is the father of both these calves via an artificial insemination program developed in cooperation with world-leading elephant reproductive experts.

Mr Jennings also took the opportunity to congratulate the naming competition winner, Sarah McCormick of St Albans, who selected the winning name.

Ms McCormick was selected at random and wins a $15,000 trip for four to Thailand donated by Thai Airways International and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

"I congratulate Sarah for selecting Mali's new name and am sure she will enjoy a wonderful holiday in Thailand," Mr Jennings said.

Mr Jennings said Mali's birth showed the importance of the Regional Conservation Breeding Program which the Melbourne Zoo has been involved in for a number of years.

"The Asian elephant is an extremely endangered animal. The Regional Conservation Breeding Program involves many zoos across Australasia, is doing a wonderful job in helping preserve the population of this majestic animal," Mr Jennings said.

"I would also like to congratulate all the staff at the Melbourne Zoo who have done a tremendous job in seeing Mali into the world and helping her integrate into the Zoo's elephant herd."