Cape May County Zoo Seeks Public To Name New Zebra Foal

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ — The Cape May County Zoo is asking the public to help name its newest zebra foal, a female born July 17, 2026.

Voting is open through Aug. 16, and the winning name will be chosen through donations made to the zoo.

The three finalist names are Gloria, Gemma and Terra. According to the announcement, each donation counts as votes toward a donor’s selected name, and larger donations count as more votes. The name that brings in the highest total in donations by Aug. 16 will become the foal’s official name.

All proceeds from the contest will go directly toward the care and feeding of animals at the Cape May County Zoo. People can cast votes in person or online. To vote online, the zoo said visitors should go to www.cmczoo.com and follow the photo of the baby zebra on the homepage.

The public announcement frames the contest as both a fundraising effort and a way for residents and visitors to take part in a moment at the county zoo. The zoo said every vote supports animal care while giving the community a role in choosing the young zebra’s name.

"This naming contest is a fun way for the public to connect with the Zoo, while directly supporting the animals who call it home," said Commissioner Vice Director, Andrew Bulakowski. "Every donation helps us keep providing the highest standard of care."

The zoo has already narrowed the options to three names, leaving the final decision to donors over the next several weeks. The fundraising vote will remain open until Aug. 16, according to the announcement.

The winning name is scheduled to be announced Aug. 17 on the zoo’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Until then, community members who want to weigh in on the foal’s name can do so by donating toward Gloria, Gemma or Terra, with all money raised supporting the zoo’s animals.