ROYAL OAK, Mich., August 4, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo received over 7,000 entries in its Name the Penguin Chick contest and has narrowed the field to the top five.  The finalists are Fritz, Izzo, Pudge, Rico and Scooter.  The public has until August 15 to visit the Zoo’s Web site at www.detroitzoo.org to vote for the winning name. 

The Macaroni penguin chick arrived on May 22 covered in fluffy down feathers.  Since then, the hatchling has “fledged” or grown its adult feathers for swimming and will join the rest of the colony in the Zoo’s Penguinarium in mid-August.

The Zoo received a number of entries inspired by the chick’s species, including Mac, Cheesy, Pasta, Ziti and Noodles.  Other popular entries included Yankee and Doodle, in reference to the patriotic song; Tuxedo, a nod to the penguin’s fashionable feathers; and Stevie Y, in honor of recently retired Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman.  Additional names deemed fit for a penguin were Chilly, Cruiser, Domino, Oreo, Toodles and Waddles. 

One of the most popular suggestions was Jonda, after the joint nickname for Detroit Christian radio station WMUZ-FM morning hosts Jon Culbert and Rhonda Hart.  The duo encouraged their audience to submit the moniker and over 250 loyal listeners responded. 

One of the more touching entries was TeTe, suggested by two Grosse Pointe residents in memory of their 16-year-old cousin, Tyler – nicknamed TeTe – who had a lifelong devotion to penguins and who died in a car accident two years ago.  At Tyler’s funeral, his friends brought either stuffed or hand-drawn penguins to place in his casket. 

Among the many clever plays on words was Inkwell, as in what’s a pen-go-in?

Entries were submitted online, through the mail, and at the Zoo’s Penguinarium.  A panel of six Zoo staffers culled the list to their top five favorites, which are the names posted on the Zoo’s Web site.  In the event the winning name was submitted by more than one person, a drawing will be held to determine the contest winner. 

The winner and three guests will receive an up-close-and-personal “Mingle with the Macaronis,” which includes the opportunity to interact with the penguin chick and the Zoo’s 62 other penguins in their chilly habitat, hand-feed the birds, receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the keeper area and incubation/nursery area, and take photos of the memorable experience.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily April through October, with extended hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 398-0900 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 

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