Hungarians vote en masse... to name baby elephant
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A one week old baby Asian elephant is seen next to its mother in the Budapest zoo on Feb 21, 2013. She is the first elephant born in Budapest's zoo since 1961 and it has been named Asha following a public vote in which over 200,000 people took part, the zoo said on Tuesday. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
BUDAPEST (AFP) - The first elephant born in Budapest's zoo since 1961 has been named Asha following a public vote in which over 200,000 people took part, the zoo said on Tuesday.
Since her birth on Feb 14, Valentine's Day, Asha's progress at the 147-year-old zoo has been closely followed by a star-struck Hungarian public.
Born three months earlier than expected, Asha - whose Sanskrit name means "hope" - weighed 75kg and was 85cm tall on arrival.
The poll, which closed on Monday, offered a choice of six names - Asha, Anita, Angyal, Amelie, and Aishwarya - all beginning with A to honour her mother Angele.
