Lahore: Lahore Zoo has named its male hippopotamus “Gubbo” at a ceremony attended by schoolchildren, zoo officials and teachers.
The hippopotamus arrived in Lahore from South Africa in March this year. The zoo also houses a female hippopotamus named Rani. Zoo Director Dr Ghulam Rasool said the name came from suggestions by children to encourage their engagement with animals and wildlife conservation.
Students dressed as animals performed during the event, and a magic show was also organised. Gubbo was served fruits and vegetables as part of the ceremony.
Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Muhammad Mujahid said animals can learn to associate names with particular sounds when people use them consistently during daily routines.
He said an animal may begin responding to a name after repeated use for one to two months through changes in attention, movement or behaviour. This does not mean animals understand names as humans do, but that they associate sounds with caregivers, routines or experiences such as feeding.
Dr Rasool said naming animals also helps zoo staff identify and manage them, while allowing visitors to form connections with individual animals. The ceremony was organised under Dr Rasool's direction and supervised by Deputy Director Shahzaib Khurshid, with Education Officer Kiran coordinating the event.
