Riga Zoo's young red kangaroo named Modris after public suggestions

A red kangaroo at the Riga National Zoological Garden, sponsored as the godchild of state postal company Latvijas Pasts, has received the name Modris. The name was chosen from suggestions submitted by the public and was said by zoo staff to suit the animal's character well.

How the name was chosen

From August 11 to 23, anyone could submit a proposed name for the young kangaroo on the Latvijas Pasts website. About 300 submissions were received in total. The name Modris — meaning roughly "vigilant" or "alert" in Latvian — was ultimately selected, with zoo representatives noting it fits the animal well, since the young kangaroo is described as alert, curious and active in daily life.

A pair of brothers

Riga Zoo's red kangaroo group consists of three adult females and two young males. Both males now have names: the older brother was previously named Laimonis, a name chosen directly by the animal keepers. Not every animal at the zoo is given a name, but an exception was made for both brothers.

A fitting partnership

Liene Nelse-Škute, who leads cooperation projects at the zoo, explained that kangaroos pair especially well with a postal company, since both kangaroo mothers and postal workers carry their own kind of pouch or bag, even if used for very different purposes. She encouraged other companies to become godparents to Riga Zoo animals, supporting the zoo while raising public awareness of its residents.