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[TinoPup]

Well then that’s ten examples of zoos that disagree with this point you’re trying to make.

Given a zoo animal a name is indeed anthropomorphic; but since it serves a practical function, let’s not begrudge them that.

Also, not everything is black and white @TinoPup. Geographically relevant names can be just as memorable. Auckland Zoo called their last orangutan infant ‘Madju’ and I can honestly say visitors found him as relatable and memorable as visitors in the 1970’s did ‘Topsy’ and ‘Turvey.’

I don't think you understand my point, then. Having a bunch of animals with the same name is very confusing, from the view point of those who keep track of animals. Unless you have studbook numbers, it can be difficult to know which is which. Look at how muddled the tracing of elephants can be, for example.

You're the one who said you had a problem with anthropomorphic things, not me?

Well of course, I imagine there aren't many orangutan infants in NZ to begin with. But people are going to remember a manatee named Bananatee much more than they're going to remember one with a name they don't know how to pronounce and have no association with.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I genuinely don't understand the problem you have with these names, or why it even matters so much to begin with.

 

[Zoofan15]

Having a bunch of animals with the same name is very confusing, from the view point of those who keep track of animals. Unless you have studbook numbers, it can be difficult to know which is which. Look at how muddled the tracing of elephants can be, for example.

Who said you have to have a bunch of animals with the same name? There’s enough names associated with any country of origin to avoid double ups. After you’ve exhausted the names you find on online baby name lists (Berani, Cinta etc.); there’s cities, towns, mountains, rivers etc. Plus anything you can dig up via an online translator. We’ve had close to a hundred Sumatran tigers born in Australasia since the breeding programme began, yet Taronga Zoo still managed to come up with three original Indonesian names last year. It’s not hard.

Also, any animal that needs to be kept track of are already in a studbook (or database); where they have an individual number that prevent name double ups causing any confusion.

But people are going to remember a manatee named Bananatee much more than they're going to remember one with a name they don't know how to pronounce and have no association with.

People are going to remember Barney (a purple dinosaur from their imagination), but do names like these (that in some cases, border on a joke) promote respect of these animals as wild animals; or do they encourage visitors to anthropomorphise them as something there for their entertainment.

I genuinely don't understand the problem you have with these names, or why it even matters so much to begin with.

You don’t need to. It’s my opinion. But it seems to be shared with the majority of zoos in this region.