Meet Pepper!

The  Penguin Chick has a Name!

The Tennessee Aquarium's first penguin chick now has a name - Pepper. Aviculturists who have been caring for the macaroni chick chose the winning name saying it fits her spicy personality. "She IS a pepper," said aviculturist Loribeth Aldrich. "She's energetic, unpredictable and feisty."

Meet Pepper!

Looking at her today, many visitors might not get the impression that Pepper is a bold bird. Some have asked why she often stands by herself on a rock away from the other penguins. "It's not because the other penguins have cast her out. It's because she claimed that spot and won't let any of the other penguins stand there," Aldrich said. That independent behavior led Aldrich and others to pick Pepper as the winning name from all of the other entries in the Aquarium’s naming contest. "I think Pepper is a fun name for her and seems to fit her Tomboy character," said Kevin Calhoon, the Aquarium's assistant curator of forests.

It took Tennessee Aquarium "election officials" quite awhile to review nearly 1,000 ballots cast in the penguin naming contest. Because she is a macaroni penguin, quite a few pasta and cheese-related entries came in like Ziti, Penne, Rotini and Velveeta. Others learned of her slap-happy nature and cast write-in votes for Slappy, Boom-Boom and Laila Ali.

Another visitor suggested the Aquarium name the macaroni, "Stephanie Colbert," a tip of the hat to Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert.

In the end, four people entered the name Pepper in the contest. Glenn Carlson's name was selected at random and declared the winner. Carlson will enjoy a prize package including overnight accommodations at the Sheraton Read House and a family four pack of tickets to the Tennessee Aquarium, IMAX 3D Theater, River Gorge Explorer and Creative Discovery Museum for kids. 

 

Source: TN Aquarium Facebook page