Baby elephant gets a name

Reid Park Zoo’s 2 1/2-week-old African elephant calf is now known as Mapenzi.More than 17,000 votes were collected through a poll on the Arizona Daily Star’s website, ultimately choosing the name of the new calf. Mapenzi means beloved in Swahili.

The calf now weighs 315 pounds and is developing some early skills, such as running to keep up with her mom, using her trunk to hold objects like sticks, and spinning in circles with her ears fanned.

Mapenzi is at times visible on the Zoo’s elephant cameras. Reid Park Zoo remains closed due to COVID-19 precautions, so for your best chance at seeing her, check the cameras between 9 a.m. and noon.

Reid Park Zoo: http://bit.ly/1dJgCDh

Zoo Cams: http://bit.ly/1ohe29b