Palm Beach Zoo’s littlest jaguar stepped out to greet her first official crowd Monday morning… and then she stepped back.

They teased her out again, plopping her on a log as dozens snapped away with cameras… and she scurried back.

Lured with leafy branches. Hasty retreat to the pen door.

Only when Maya - that’s her new name suggested by a Stuart man and chosen by popular vote - only when Maya’s mother joined her did she venture out to a chorus of “Awww’s,” followed by a series of “Shush’s.” No one wanted the little girl to get spooked.

“She’s pretty,” said Jordan Nathanson, 14, of Greenacres, one of about 100 folks drawn to the jaguar pen for a 10 a.m. ceremony.
“Being that young, I can imagine being that shy.”
Maya is young, born in October to Nabalam, her mother, and Muchacho, her father. She’s the fifth cub born to the pair. While she’s been viewed by thousands online, Monday was her debut to the live crowds at the zoo’s Tropics of the Americas jaguar exhibit.

And was it was her first time trying on her new name, chosen by the public who submitted names and then voted on the top 5.

Her name was nominated by David Lipps of Stuart, a registered nurse at St. Lucie Medical Center, who receives a catered dinner for six at the zoo catered by the Ritz-Carlton valued at $600.

Maya garnered nearly half the 2,459 votes cast. She didn’t even come close to being named Jasmine, Tula, Suma or Akantha.

Maya, who is already bigger than any house cat, was easily the most popular draw Monday.

Ten-year-old Hanna Lane of West Palm Beach got video.

Olivia Worcester, 6, who’s visiting from Vermont, waved (and secretly wished Maya had been named Charlotte - she names all her stuffed animals Charlotte).

Five-year-old Mariel Silpe of Palm Beach Gardens announced she liked “Maya” and couldn’t remember the name she had nominated.

Maya’s arrival prompted West Palm Beach’s Mayor Lois Frankel to proclaim this month Jaguar Conservation Month, and Palm Beach Zoo officials announced they have designated the jaguar as the zoo’s first “Priority Species for Conservation.”

The idea is to get the public interested in the plight of species in the zoo that are endangered in their natural habitats.

The interest sparked around zoo educator Shannon Long was endless. A gaggle of kids had endless questions:

“Where do they get the mom and dad?”

“From us. We pair them up. It’s an arranged marriage.”
“Does Maya like her mom?”

“Maya likes her mom, especially her mom’s tail,” Long said.

“Where’s the dad? Doesn’t he get to see the baby?”

“No. It’s very weird,” Long said They would never get in contact. They wouldn’t get along. Cats are solitary animals.”

Maya may not be seeing dad in her habitat, but she was far from alone Monday morning.

Tags: jaguar, palm beach zoo

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