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Lincoln Park Zoo's New Camel Is Named Alexander Camelton

By Alex Nitkin | June 6, 2016 12:05pm | Updated on July 1, 2016 10:56am
 His caregivers gave a hat tip to both the Founding Fathers and the hit musical.
Alexander Camelton
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LINCOLN PARK — The Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed a new camel last month, and if its name is any indication, the animal is destined for greatness.

Born to Bactrian camels Nasan and Scooter on May 9, "Alexander Camelton" entered the world a healthy 81 pounds, already standing four feet tall.

Alexander was named in honor of the founding father, who's going through a pop-culture rebirth thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical, which debuts in Chicago later this year.

Zookeepers even cited the record-shattering hip-hopera "Hamilton" in their naming decision, which they announced in a Saturday Facebook post.

News of the camel's name reached Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of "Hamilton." He retweeted this DNAinfo story touting the name.

Alexander was the first camel born at the zoo since 1998. He's on display with his parents in their outdoor yard in the zoo's Antelope and Zebra Area.

 

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