Phoenix Zoo announces winners of contest to name 2 new lion cubs

PHOENIX – Based on the results of a naming contest, the public thinks the newest Phoenix Zoo lion cubs are precious and brave.

Zookeepers provided eight names to honor the baby cats’ African roots for the two-week online vote, which ended Sunday. Azizi and Jasiri took the top spots after more than 10,000 votes were tallied.

Azizi means precious in Arabic and Swahili, and Jasiri means brave in Swahili, according to the zoo.

Azizi is a little more timid and shy than Jasiri, who has a bolder personality. They are the first African lion cubs born at the zoo since 1976.

The naming contest options that didn’t make the cut were Baahir (dazzling or brilliant in Arabic), Babatunde (the father returns in Yoruba), Hasani (handsome in Swahili), Moyo (heart in Ndebele), Sibasa (king of the wild in Zimbabwe) and Tau (lion in Tswana/Sotho).

Can visitors see the two Phoenix Zoo lion cubs?

Azizi and Jasiri are about 4 months old and almost ready for their public debut.

Zoo officials expect the playful cubs to move into their Predator Passage habitat at some time in October.

Until then, the future kings of the jungle are staying in a separate enclosure behind the scenes with their mother, Zuri.

When is the Phoenix Zoo open?

The Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N. Galvin Parkway in Papago Park.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, with member entry at 7 a.m., through the end of September.

The zoo will make its seasonal schedule switch in October, when hours will be extended to 9 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days a week, with early entry for members at 8 a.m.

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