The National Zoo is looking to name the last of its red panda cubs, and it’s partnered with NBC4 to let the public decide what the little half-fox, half-raccoon red furball of wonderfulness shall be called. The four options all play on the fact that the twins (more adorable pictures here) were born on stormy June evening; the first of the red pandas has already been named Damini, Nepalese for “lightning.”
The options for the remaining panda are: Pili (Chinese for “clap of thunder”), Leiji (Chinese for “lightning strike”), Huri (Nepalese for “strong wind” or “storm”), or Anghi (Nepalese for “storm” or “whirlwind”).
You can vote here. I’m partial to Leiji, though I’d like to see if it could be altered to sound a little more, you know, menacing. What’s “lighting strike of the Gods that struck fear in the hearts of mere mortals” in Chinese? And no, I won’t forgive anyone if Pili wins, no matter what the association to thunder is.
Martin Austermuhle