ATLANTA (AP) The only giant panda cub born at a U.S. zoo last year now has a name to match his fame: Po, after the star of "Kung Fu Panda.''
The 3-month-old cub's new moniker was announced Tuesday at Zoo Atlanta by actor Jack Black, the voice of Po in the animated movie. Black was promoting "Kung Fu Panda II,'' due out May 27.
Dreamworks, which made the film, donated money to the zoo to help with its panda conservation program, though zoo officials declined to say how much was given. Zoo Atlanta pays $500,000 per year to China to lease the pandas.
Hayley Murphy, director of veterinary services at Zoo Atlanta, said the partnership with Dreamworks is a chance to promote conservation to children across the globe.
"It allows us to reach a much larger audience than we could on our own,'' she said after the naming ceremony.
The ceremony was held in the Chinese tradition of naming giant pandas when they turn 100 days old. The cub, the third for Zoo Atlanta, was born Nov. 3 to mother Lun Lun (loon loon) and father Yang Yang (yahng yahng).
Black, dressed in medical scrubs, petted the cub before the ceremony as the 10-pound critter wriggled and squawked in his keeper's hands. He later described the cub's fur as "thick and powerful,'' smirking as he gave interviews to TV cameras along a red carpet set up by the zoo.
"Right before I touched the panda, the doctor said, 'They don't like to be touched and they have powerful, sharp claws. Be careful.' So then I touched the panda but I was a little nervous about it,'' Black said.
The cub's name is a departure from the traditional Chinese names of Po's brother and sister, Xi Lan (she lahn) and Mei Lan (may lahn). Those names were chosen by the public in online voting.
The ceremony included a Chinese dragon dance before a sea of children wearing panda hats, who shrieked when the gold and red creature came near. Black also danced with the dragon, showing off his kung fu moves before the crowd.
The cub didn't make an appearance at the naming ceremony because he's still in isolation with his mother. Po is expected to make his public debut in late March or early April when he's learned to walk.
Panda fans Jennifer Lynn and Jan Lamson drove from Knoxville, Tenn., for the naming ceremony. Lynn, wearing a headband with panda ears, said she frequently comes to town to see the zoo's panda family.
"They're beautiful,'' she said. "When we're stressed, you can look at them and your mood changes.''
Just three other U.S. zoos have giant pandas: San Diego, Memphis and Washington, D.C.
Associated Press writer Kate Brumback contributed to this report.
Zoo Atlanta: http://www.zooatlanta.org
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
