JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Seven endangered red wolf pups now have Choctaw names. The Jackson Zoo had a weekend ceremony to name the pups born March 30.
Red wolves once were common throughout eastern and south-central states. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says they’re now among the world’s most endangered animals.
Chief Phyliss Anderson of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians named the largest pup, a female. Her name is Nokshópa Iksho, which means “No Fear.” The Choctaw Elderly Center named the dominant pup Tashka Tík, meaning “Female Warrior.”
Tribal elementary school students named the others. Each principal chose three names and the tribe’s council chose the winners. Bogue Chitto Elementary School students named a male that likes to run and hide. He is now Nashoba Ninak – in English, “Night Wolf.”