Zoo rounds down cougar name submissions to five

The new male cougar at the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park will have a name shortly, as zoo officials have rounded down the list of names to five.

In a posting to the zoo’s Facebook page, the potential names are:

■ Linus, after the character from the Peanuts comic strip. The name, submitted by Sara Lantier, was because of the cougar’s apparent fondness for his blanket.

■ Sorky, a shortened form of Absarokee, Mont., where he was found by utility workers. The name was submitted by Tammy Stinson.

■ Climby, submitted by Canton Central students, to describe his love of climbing.

■ Tsavorite, submitted by Sheila Callahan, for a type of green garnet stone. The zoo’s last male cougar was named Garnet.

■ Ninja, submitted by Chapel Drive Annex kindergartners, for his ability to jump “like a ninja.”

Voting, to be done on the zoo’s Facebook page, will end at 4 p.m. Sunday. The winning name will be announced Monday.