The Andean Bear cub born at the Phoenix Zoo in January needs
a name, and you are invited to vote
through Sunday, June 30.

Photo Credit:  Joseph Becker

The cub’s keepers have selected four names that they feel
represent the little cub’s personality.  The
potential names are:

Arturo: meaning
‘bear’ and ‘courageous’

Javier: meaning
‘born in January’

Luka: meaning
‘light’ in reference to the white spectacle markings around Andean bears’ eyes

Pepe: meaning
‘he will grow’

Voting will run until 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, June 30.
The results will then be tabulated and the new name will be announced on Tuesday,
July 2.

The cub and his mother, Rio, remain behind the scenes at the
zoo.  You first met the cub on ZooBorns in
April, but as you can see from the photos, he is growing fast.  The cub will make his public debut sometime
later this year. 

Andean Bears, also called Spectacled Bears, are native to the Andes Mountains of
South America, where they are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature.  Only
2,000-2,400 remain in the wild.

See more photos of the cub below the fold.