PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo is honoring one of the animals on exhibit during the annual Mother's Day celebration by naming a 2009 Zoo Mother of the Year, and the public is invited to help choose the winner.

Photo courtesy: Oregon Zoo

The zoo's oldest resident, Coco the chimpanzee, enjoys a moment with one of her 17 offspring.

This year's finalists are a colobus monkey named Mali, a chimpanzee named Coco and first-time mom Rose-Tu, an Asian elephant. People can read more about the finalists, view photos, and vote for their top choice by logging onto the zoo’s online ballot.

"These three moms all represent species that are endangered," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "As successful moms, they've done a great deal to help their species."

The finalists were selected by zoo employees from an initial list of seven zoo moms.

Photo courtesy: Oregon Zoo

Mali the colobus monkey holds her baby Delu.

"Zoo employees enjoy the chance to choose the finalists," said Vecchio. "We have to watch out for those who enthusiastically vote more than once."

Online votes will be accepted through Thursday, May 7, at noon. The zoo will announce its 2009 Mother of the Year on Friday, May 8, at 10:30 a.m.

In addition to honoring mothers from the animal kingdom, a Mother's Day brunch for human moms and their families will take place in the Oregon Zoo's Cascade Crest Banquet Center on Sunday, May 10. First seating is at 9 a.m. and last seating is at 1 p.m. The brunch buffet includes pastries and quick breads, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, made-to-order omelets, breakfast potatoes, french toast with maple syrup, biscuits and gravy, chicken marsala, penne pasta with garlic alfredo and roasted vegetables, as well as assorted salads and desserts. Cost for the brunch is $21.95 ($9.95 for ages 11 and under).

Photo courtesy: Oregon Zoo

First-time mom Rose-Tu looks after her 8-month-old son, Samudra.

Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 503-525-4299. Zoo admission is not included in the price of the brunch; however, zoo admission is not required to attend the brunch.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63 to the Oregon Zoo. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $1 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.