FORT WAYNE — The Fort Wayne Zoo is asking the community to pick names for five bat-eared fox kits born in May, offering a hands-on way for residents to support animal care and conservation work at the city attraction.
How the naming works
Now through July 22, zoo visitors and Fort Wayne residents can vote for names by making a donation of $5 per vote. Each kit has a curated list of name options that reflect the species’ native grassland homes in eastern and southern Africa. The vote is cast on the zoo’s website, where donors select which kit to name and choose from a dropdown list of possible names.
- Voting link and donation page: fwzoo.com
- Donation amount: $5 per vote
- Voting deadline: July 22
Animals, parents and funding
The litter includes four males and one female, born to first-time parents Ripley and Mkhuseli. The zoo says each vote’s donation will go toward the care of the bat-eared foxes and help support the roughly 1,500 animals that live at the Fort Wayne Zoo.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Bat-eared fox |
| Birth month | May 2026 |
| Parents | Ripley and Mkhuseli |
| Kit sexes | 4 males, 1 female |
Additional ways to support
In addition to the naming donations, the zoo has created an Amazon Wishlist specifically for enrichment and care items for the fox kits. The list is intended to provide targeted supplies that help staff meet the animals’ physical and behavioral needs as they grow.
“This a rare opportunity, not just to welcome the kits, but for our community to help name them,” Amy Lazoff, Vice President of Mission Impact, said.
The naming campaign serves two purposes: it raises modest funds for daily animal care and creates an engagement moment that brings visitors to the zoo to observe the kits and their parents. For the Fort Wayne Zoo — a long-standing cultural and educational institution in Allen County — initiatives like this contribute to operating needs and public programming without relying solely on municipal support.
Residents who want to vote or learn more should visit the Fort Wayne Zoo’s homepage and follow the “Click here to name the kits” link, which redirects to the donation and selection page. The campaign runs through July 22, after which the chosen names will be announced.
