Ballardites can call the meerkats cute, they can call them curious and soon, they can call them by the names that they have given them.

Woodland Park Zoo is inviting the community to pick their favorite names for the zoo’s new mob of eight meerkats with a voting contest starting June 1.

The zoo has selected 16 names that reflect the meerkats’ native southern African habitat, and now it is the public's turn to cast their vote for up to eight of their favorites. The naming contest lasts through June 15.

The eight highest vote getters from the following choices will become the new names for our four male and four female meerkat mob members:

• Kalahari (African desert)
• Kgala (“great thirst” in Tswana)
• Acacia (African tree)
• Kiwano (Kalahari fruit)
• Nossob (southern African river)
• Baobob (African plains tree)
• Aranos (Namibian town)
• Molopo (southern African river)
• Gochas (Namibian settlement)
• Ghanzi (town in Botswana)
• Zimba (Zambian town)
• Erongo (Namibian mountain)
• Dinawwa (“beans” in Tswana)
• Nata (southern African river)
• Kuruman (southern African river)
• Ngami (lake in Botswana)

Voters will be entered to win a grand prize or one of two runner-up prizes.

The grand prize is a three-day, two-night trip for four to San Diego including airfare, hotel accommodations at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley, and tickets to local attractions including San Diego Zoo and Sea World.

The two runner-up prizes are $75 Woodland Park Zoo gift cards and ZooParent meerkat adoption.

The three winners will be drawn at random from all eligible entries.

The poll is open to all ages for voting. To be eligible for prizes, entrants must be legal Washington state residents and 18 or older (or have guardian approval); one ballot per eligible entrant.

Ballots are available at participating U.S. Bank locations across the Puget Sound region, in June 1 through June 15 issues of The Seattle Times, on zoo grounds during business hours, and for download on the zoo’s Web site.

All ballots must be returned to a participating U.S. Bank location during business hours by end of business day June 15 or mailed to the zoo at 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103, Attn: Name the Meerkats, postmarked by June 15.

For complete rules, a list of participating U.S. Bank locations or to download a ballot, visit www.zoo.org/meerkats.

The eight most-voted meerkat names and the three prize winners will be announced on July 1 at Red, White & Zoo when meerkats will enjoy a special watermelon treat as part of our annual Independence Day-themed enrichment event.

The new Woodland Park Zoo meerkat exhibit opened May 1.

Click here for a video of the meerkats exploring a naming contest ballot box.