Toronto has a new celebrity in town, and she is straight up adorable.
Born just last month at the start of April to proud parents Heather and Fergus, the High Park Zoo announced on their socials that the little Highland cow calf was the first zoo baby of the season.
Non-profit Friends of High Park Zoo then asked for the public’s help with an open naming contest, which received over 550 submissions.
The top three choices came down to Poppy, Winnie, and Molly McMoo, and when the polls closed on April 30, there was a clear winner.
And now without further ado, we’d like to introduce Miss Molly McMoo, which received 43% of the total votes.
“Many thanks for the more than 550 people who responded,” wrote Friends of High Park Zoo on their website.
“It was a close race, with Molly McMoo getting 43 per cent of votes. Poppy came in second and Winnie in third. They are all great names, but we think Molly McMoo is perfect.”
Highland cows originate in Scotland, and are known for their docile temperment, long horns and fluffy, red-tinged hair. They can also sometimes be black, dun, yellow, white, grey, tan, silver and brindle in coloration. Adults can reach an average weight of 1,100 pounds, and with their thick, double coat, can withstand harsh climates with ease.
Established in 1893, High Park Zoo is beloved gem in the city, which you can visit completely for free. Home to a variety of animals, you can see everything from emus and llamas to peacocks, capybaras, and bison who call the zoo home. You can even get close to and hand feed the llamas for just $2!
If you’d like to meet Molly McMoo, the zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. While you’re there, don’t miss the last of cherry blossom season, which is just reaching the end of its peak!