The new name was given it in 1988 in honor of Bolivian biologist Noel Kempff Mercado, who was murdered on the plateau by drug traffickers after he stumbled across an illegal cocaine laboratory.
Uus nimi anti aastal 1988 Boliivia bioloogi Noel Kempff Mercado auks, kelle uimastikaubitsejad sellel platool mõrvasid, kui ta oli juhuslikult avastanud nende illegaalse kokaiinilabori.