News archive

Winner of zoo competition enjoys prize

Luke Denton, from Coleraine, was the winner of Belfast Zoo’s name the pygmy goat competition. Luke spent a very special afternoon at the zoo on Saturday as part of his prize.

Luke chose the names Hannah and Edmund for Belfast Zoo’s pygmy goats, and won the competition for the reason he had behind the names. Luke thought that the goats should be named after great climbers since they themselves are great climbers too. Hannah Shields was the first lady from NI to climb Mount Everest and Edmund Hillary was the first ever man to climb Mount Everest.

Zoo manager Mark Challis said, “We had a great response to the competition to name our pygmy goat couple. There were a lot of great name suggestions but the originality of Luke’s reasons won him the prize. The two goats are now officially named Hannah and Edmund, and will be for life.”

Luke didn’t only give the goats their official names; he also won an adoption for the pair, and the chance to meet them and their keeper on Saturday 8th May. Edmund and Hannah were fond of Luke when they met him, never leaving his side while he fed them. Competition winner Luke also got a surprise treat of feeding the giraffes in their outdoor enclosure.

Belfast Zoo is delighted with the new names for the previously nameless goats, and was glad to welcome Luke and see him enjoy his special afternoon.