Scotty wins!

12-year-old names
Louisville Zoo’s baby elephant 

The biggest baby ever born in the state of Kentucky and at the Louisville Zoo—a male baby elephant—finally received his name today: Scotty.

The name was submitted by 12-year-old April Pile of Hudson, Ky., as part of the Elephant Baby Naming Contest presented by Norton Healthcare. Elephant area zookeepers narrowed the more than 7,000 entries down to three: Angus, Jonesy and Scotty. There were multiple entries for each finalist name selected, so winners were chosen at random.

Zoo visitors then voted by making a contribution via coins and dollars into the slots of the Naming Contest kiosk on the Zoo’s front plaza. The voting was competitive, but Scotty edged out the other two.

“I thought Scotty was a good name,” Pile said. “Elephants are one of my favorite animals.”

Pile, who will be attending Breckenridge Middle School in the fall, said she was excited to hear her entry won.

“I was happy,” she giggled. “Yes, I was very happy.”

A total of $1,360.91 was raised through the voting process, with Scotty receiving $598.55. All proceeds support the Zoo’s efforts to provide excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. A portion of the proceeds will support conservation efforts in Africa.

As the grand prize winner, Pile received a Zoo family membership, baby and mom stuffed animals, two round trip tickets from Frontier Airlines valued at $1,000, a $50 gift certificate from Whole Foods, a Norton Healthcare tote bag filled with gifts, a Lowe’s Charbroil Gas Grill and hide-a-way garden hose (together a $150 value), and behind-the-scenes tour to meet baby and Mom with their keepers.

Second runner up was Jonesy, submitted by Shannon Waits of Louisville with $491.19 and third place was Angus, submitted by Jeanette Strickland of Angier, N.C., with $271.17. The two runners up will receive a Zoo ticket prize pack, plush elephant and $25 gift certificate from Whole Foods.

Scotty, who was born March 18, is growing fast and currently weighs 410 pounds. His favorite things to do are play in the mud and log in the elephant yard.

Scotty and mother Mikki are on exhibit daily from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m., weather permitting.

The naming contest was presented by Norton Healthcare with additional support from Frontier Airlines, Whole Foods Market, Lowe’s, WAVE 3 TV and 102.3 WXMA.

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The Louisville Zoo is the state zoo of Kentucky and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our collections, which include botanical gardens, are accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which is building North America’s largest wildlife conservation movement by engaging and inspiring over 143 million visitors and their communities to care about and take action to help protect wildlife.

(photo at top) Elephant Naming Contest winner April Pile, 12 and Louisville Zoo Elephant
Area Supervisor Dave Campbell.)

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