ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — The North Carolina Zoo’s two sand cat kittens have names, chosen by more than 21,000 voters in an online poll last month.
The female kitten will be known as Ziri — Arabic for moonlight — after earning more than 5,200 votes. Her brother was given the name Zayn — Arabic for handsome — with more than 7,100 votes.
The kittens were born in March of this year to mother Sahara and her mate Cosmo at the zoo’s Desert Dome. They made their first public appearance on March 19.
Ziri and Zayn are the second litter for Sahara and Cosmo, who previously produced three offspring — Amir, Cleo and Jabari.
The zoo thanked voters on social media, calling the poll one of the ways it enjoys involving guests in special moments. The Desert Dome remains open for viewing, though the zoo asks visitors to keep noise to a minimum and refrain from tapping or touching the glass near the habitat.
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