LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo announced the name of its new tiger cub. With nearly 5,000 votes were cast in the zoo’s four-week public voting period, Kaji emerged as the favorite.
The name was selected from a list of three names, each with different meanings reflecting the important of the cub to the species’ survival and honoring his parents.
Kaji — pronounced kah-gee — is a combination of both parents’ names: Kami and Jingaa. The zoo said their legacy will live on through their cub, contributing to the conservation of Sumatran tigers for future generations.
Norton Children's Hospital patient Skylar Bischof-Thomas, who is 8-years-old, revealed the winning name with Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, and zoo officials at a ceremony on Oct. 11, 2024.
Kaji joined the zoo family on July 23,2024. He is the offspring of 16-year-old male Kami Sambal and 14-year-old Jingga. Kaji is the first Sumatran tiger to be born at the zoo in over 20 years.
Guests of the zoo can see Kaji and Jingga in the Banjar House habitat at the Islands exhibit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. The zoo has an up-to-date viewing schedule online.
Chris Hughes - Digital Producer
Chris Hughes is a digital producer for Spectrum News 1 Kentucky. He has had an extensive career as a freelance journalist and joined Spectrum in 2022.
