Ramona and K.C. Chimpanzee appreciate your help!

The Dallas Zoological Society is proud to announce the winning name of the Zoo’s new little chimp, born April 19. Kona, a combination of the parents’ names, K.C. and Ramona, was selected by the panel of five judges: Jenny Lewis, vice president of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation; Chuck Siegel, deputy director of animal management for the Dallas Zoo and The Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park; Todd Bowsher, Ph.D., curator of mammals; Melody Forshey, senior zookeeper; and Eric McAfee, zookeeper.

“Contestants put a lot of thought into many of the names they submitted,” Siegel said. “It was a hard decision. In addition to the creative combination of parents’ names, I think Kona will be easy for the little chimp to recognize when called to come in for dinner.”

There were 1,178 contest entries, some coming from as far away as Oregon, Minnesota, Montana, and Connecticut. The name Kona was submitted by seven contestants. They will each receive a Family Membership to the Dallas Zoo for one year, and they will become the first Adopt-An-Animal family for the little chimp.

Winners are:

• Leilani Castillo, Duncanville, Texas
• Cody Edwards, Sapulpa, Oklahoma
• Dawn Lugo, Mount Pleasant, Texas
• Anne Mitchell, Dallas, Texas
• Crystal Smerczynski, McKinney, Texas
• Linda Trahan, Rockwall, Texas
• Mary Gail Wooldridge, El Paso, Texas

Not a member of the Dallas Zoological Society? Join today and experience the joy of watching our newest family member grow throughout the year!