Baby muskox named after 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek at Washington zoo

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Friday, July 10, 2020
Baby muskox named after 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek
Meet Trebek! Alex Trebek's favorite animal is the muskox. Now, the "Jeopardy!" host has one named after him.

TACOMA, Wash. -- Meet Trebek! The baby muskox is named after "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek.

The fuzzy calf was born on June 7 at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington.

"Jeopardy!" shared the news Friday tweeting, "they chose to name the newborn after our very own Alex - whose favorite animal is the muskox!"

Adoring fans voted online after the zoo launched a naming contest.

"Out of 5,229 votes, Trebek won by a clear margin at 42%, with runner-up names Mak (29%), Ollie (27%) and Capra (2%)," announced the zoo.

"We all knew his spirit animal is a muskox," explained assistant curator Shannon Smith, of the initial name suggestion.

The 79-year old "Jeopardy!" host explained his love for muskoxen during an interview on Jeopardy.com.

"Muskoxen are family oriented, and I like that. When in danger, they form a protective circle with the males facing outward, and the cows and calves in the center. There are very few predators brave enough to attack this formation. Besides that, I like the way their furry coats wave in the breeze when they are running."

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