Public invited to name tigers, raise funds for Pana‘ewa zoo

Friends of the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo invites residents and visitors to help name the zoo’s newest attractions, two Bengal tiger cubs, while also assisting its fundraising efforts to support the zoo.

Zoo visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite pair of names for the white male and orange female tigers.

Each $1 donation counts as a vote, though a donation is not required. Votes can be cast at the zoo’s new information booth from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Thursday.

All fundraising proceeds will go to the nonprofit Friends of the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo, which will tally the ballots and announce the winning names after voting ends.

The following names are being offered for the new tiger cubs:

• Mana (miraculous power) and Kea (white).

• ‘Alani (orange) and Kea.

• Raja (the tiger friend of Princess Jasmine in the 1992 Disney animated film “Aladdin”) and Jasmine (Princess Jasmine from the “Aladdin” movie).

• Sriracha (an orange hot chili sauce named after Si Racha, Thailand) and Tzatziki (a white Greek yogurt and herb cold sauce).

Located off Stainback Highway about 5 miles south of Hilo, the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo is the only naturally occurring tropical rain forest zoo in the United States. More than 80 animal species and 100 palm varieties can be found at the zoo and gardens.

Admission is free, and the zoo is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

For more information about the naming or the zoo, visit www.hilozoo.com.