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Summary of Transcript:
The Dixons announced the winner of the baby sloth naming contest on behalf of the Denver Zoo, thanking everyone who sent in donations and had their voices heard. They share the story of a little boy named Ben who loved sloths and was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at 9 and passed away when he was 11. The sloth is being named in honor of Ben, and they mention that special plans are being developed in partnership with the Zoo. The name of the baby sloth is Foreign.
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Summary of Description:
Denver Zoo has announced that Linne’s two-toed sloth pup has been named Wicket after receiving over 3,000 votes from donors. The Zoo expressed gratitude to its donors for their financial support, which helps provide care for the baby sloth and continue wildlife conservation work. The Zoo also acknowledged the messages they received to honor Ben Dixon, a young boy who loved sloths and died of cancer. Ben’s parents shared their son’s incredible legacy of kindness, generosity, and love and helped the Zoo announce the name of the sloth pup.
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Denver Zoo Names Sloth Pup after Boy Who Lost Battle with Cancer
The Denver Zoo announced that Linne’s two-toed sloth pup has a name, and it’s a special one. After the beloved Star Wars character, the baby sloth will be named Wicket. After four weeks of public voting, the little sloth’s name was chosen, with over 3,000 people participating. Wicket will now grow up in his Tropical Discovery home at the Zoo, receiving world-class care, thanks in large part to the generous donations of Denver Zoo supporters.
Honoring Ben Dixon
In addition to announcing the sloth’s name, the Zoo also took a moment to honor the legacy of Ben Dixon, a young boy who lost his battle with Ewing’s sarcoma a few years ago. Ben was a big fan of sloths and even had his own stuffed sloth named Wicket. When Ben’s parents, Amy and Dave Dixon, heard about the naming contest, they saw an opportunity to honor their son’s passion for sloths and his memory. They contacted the Denver Zoo, sharing Ben’s story and asking if they could name the sloth after him. The Zoo was more than happy to oblige.
“It’s amazing. We’re just so grateful that they chose to honor Ben in this way,” said Amy Dixon.
Community Support
Denver Zoo is more than just one of Colorado’s top tourist attractions. It’s also a community-driven organization that depends on the support of animal lovers to fund its conservation efforts. The organizers of the voting contest were thrilled by the level of engagement they saw from the community.
“We’d like to thank all our amazing donors for their support of Denver Zoo and our animals. Your generous donations ensure that Wicket will receive world-class care as he grows up in his Tropical Discovery home. We can continue our wildlife conservation work in Colorado and worldwide.”
The naming contest was just one example of the wonderful ways the Denver Zoo works with the local community. The Zoo fosters a deeper connection between people and animals by actively engaging with the public, promoting empathy and understanding.
Final Thoughts
Naming the baby sloth after a boy who loved sloths so much is a touching tribute to a young life lost too soon. As Wicket grows up and becomes a beloved fixture at the Zoo, visitors will be able to learn about his namesake and the legacy of kindness that he left behind. Denver Zoo is more than just a place to see amazing animals; it’s a vital community resource, working tirelessly to promote conservation, education, and empathy. The naming of Wicket was just one moment in which the Zoo brought all those values together, creating a special memory that will be treasured for years.
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Source Description
We’re thrilled to announce that our Linne’s two-toed sloth pup has a name! After four weeks of voting and over 3,000 votes, we’re happy to share that our new baby’s name is…WICKET! We want to extend a huge thank you to all our amazing donors for their support of Denver Zoo and our animals. Your generous donations ensure that Wicket will receive world-class care as he grows up in his Tropical Discovery home. We can continue our wildlife conservation work in Colorado and worldwide.
We also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge again the messages we received asking us to honor Ben Dixon. Ben was a sweet, sloth-loving boy from Fort Collins, Colorado, who passed away a few years ago after being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. We’re honored that Ben’s parents, Amy and Dave Dixon, took the time to share more about their son’s incredible legacy of kindness, generosity, and love and helped us announce the name of our sloth pup. As a community-driven organization, we’re so thankful to our incredible community for coming together to share Ben’s story, support the Zoo and help name our baby sloth. ?
