ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — The North Carolina Zoo is inviting the public to help choose names for two sand cat kittens born earlier this year at the zoo’s Desert Dome, with voting open now through 5 p.m. Thursday, May 21.
The online poll, available at surveymonkey.com/r/6KV9YNW, allows one vote per device. The zoo plans to announce the winning names on its social media channels after voting closes.
The male kitten’s name options are Kavir, a Persian word meaning desert or salt desert; Zayn, Arabic for handsome; Rocco, short for Morocco; Qamar, Arabic for moon; and Khosh, Farsi for handsome.
For the female kitten, voters may choose from Zahra, Arabic for flower; Yasmin, the Persian word for jasmine flower; Ziri, Arabic for moonlight; Aziza, Arabic for beloved or cherished; Noor, Arabic for light; and Ziba, Farsi for beautiful.
The kittens are the second litter born to mother Sahara and her mate Cosmo, who previously produced three offspring — Amir, Cleo and Jabari — in 2023. Cosmo gained wider recognition from guests after being featured on National Geographic’s “Secret of the Zoo: North Carolina.”
The kittens made their first public appearance March 19, joining their parents on habitat in the Desert Dome. While their eyes are open, the young cats are still spending much of their time sleeping and nursing close to their mother.
Sand cats are among the world’s smallest wild felines, typically weighing between 4 and 8 pounds. Despite their round-eyed, large-eared appearance, the species is known as a fierce and capable hunter. The North Carolina Zoo asks visitors to the Desert Dome to keep noise to a minimum, limit time at viewing areas and refrain from tapping or touching the glass near the habitat.
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