How Did HONOVI & YAZHI Get Their Names?

Many Zoo members and guests have asked, “How did the goat kids get their names?” Roxanna Breitigan, Animal Care Manger, has the answer:

The female’s name, Yazhi, means “little one” in Navaho. Because she was always small and petite, the name seemed to fit. The male’s name is Honovi, which means “strong” in Hopi. His keepers noticed he was a fighter during the first months of his life when he was a bit ill and injured. Both names come from Native American languages and fit the goat kid’s personalities.

Previously, guests could view the two kids in the “middle” tapir yard. Since then they have moved to the Rocky Mountain goat exhibit to live with the rest of the herd. Yazhi and Honovi have also been weaned off of bottles of milk and now eat grains and alfalfa. You can see the entire herd of Rocky Mountain goats during regular Zoo hours.