Latest news with #Abrazzo
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Philadelphia Zoo welcomes 3 baby Galapagos tortoises to join the "Golden Girls"
The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed three new additions to its animal family this week after a group of male Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises hatched. The boys join the Golden Girls — four female tortoises hatched earlier this year who were named Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia after a community vote. The first of the boys began to hatch on April 14. Philadelphia Zoo All seven babies are the offspring of female Mommy and male Abrazzo, the zoo's two oldest residents. Mommy is also considered the oldest first-time mom of her species. She's been at the zoo for more than nine decades. The sex of these tortoises is determined by the temperature during incubation, which the zoo can influence. Temperatures below 82.4 degrees produce males, and conditions above 85.1 degrees produce females. The eggs hatch after four to eight months. Mommy laid the eggs that have hatched so far in November 2024, and staff at the zoo chose to incubate some at a temperature that would produce males and some at a temperature that would produce females. All of the babies are staying in the Reptile and Amphibian House for now. Philadelphia Zoo Nine more eggs that Mommy laid in January are still developing and could hatch soon, according to the zoo. "Mommy arrived at the Zoo in 1932, meaning anyone that has visited the Zoo for the last 92 years has likely seen her," President and CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman said in a statement in April. "Philadelphia Zoo's vision is that those hatchlings will be a part of a thriving population of Galapagos tortoises on our healthy planet 100 years from now." Philadelphia Zoo Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are critically endangered, and these babies are part of a program by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that is working to keep species like this alive. "This success has been a years-long process from bringing Abrazzo to the Zoo in 2020, to fundraising for nesting materials in 2021 and introducing Mommy and Abrazzo in 2022," Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz said in a statement. "Our sincerest gratitude for this success goes to the passionate and diligent work by experts in the AZA community and the entire Philadelphia Zoo team, including the countless keepers that kept Mommy healthy and thriving over the last 93 years." The zoo is selling merch to celebrate the tortoises and raise money for its animal care fund.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Names announced for four endangered tortoises born at Pennsylvania zoo
PHILADELPHIA (WTAJ) — The four critically endangered Galapagos Tortoise hatchlings that were born at the end of February have now officially been named thanks to help from the public. In late February, Mommy and Abrazzo, two of the oldest residents at the Philadelphia Zoo, started a family of their very own. Each was around 100 years old when Mommy laid her four eggs. The babies, four little girls, made their official debut on April 23, which is also the 93rd anniversary of Mommy's arrival at the zoo. Penguins planting trees: How the Pittsburgh team is scoring for Earth In order to help name the new babies, the zoo held a naming contest, and over 13,000 people weighed in on the name choices. However, ultimately, the very popular show 'Golden Girls' ended up being the inspiration behind the winning names. The four tortoises are named Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia! The zoo added that alongside the voting for naming the turtles, they hosted a tortoise painting auction and were able to raise $10,500 for their conservation fund. The babies are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). This program is working to ensure the survival of species like the critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises. It's safe to say these little ladies mean an awful lot to the people and to the program that's working to ensure their survival. You can learn more about the AZA program and the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises on the Philadelphia Zoo website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Philadelphia Zoo wants help naming new tortoise hatchlings
Philadelphia Zoo in the US recently welcomed four newly hatched tortoises. The quadruplets, which are all females, made their public debut for the first time on Wednesday this the zoo wants help naming the adorable hatchlings. The babies' mother, Mommy and father, Abrazzo, are both Western Santa Cruz Galapagos are both 100 years old and became parents for the very first time, with Mommy becoming the oldest known first-time mother of her species. The arrival of the hatchlings is a big deal as Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are critically endangered in the wild, and there are currently fewer than than 50 in US tortoises are part of a special breeding programme focused on the survival of the species. "This is a significant milestone in the history of Philadelphia Zoo, and we couldn't be more excited to share this news with our city, region, and the world," said Philadelphia Zoo President & CEO Dr Jo-Elle Mogerman after the tortoises hatched. "Mommy arrived at the Zoo in 1932, meaning anyone that has visited the Zoo for the last 92 years has likely seen her. "Philadelphia Zoo's vision is that those hatchlings will be a part of a thriving population of Galapagos tortoises on our healthy planet 100 years from now." Up until Wednesday, the babies had been kept away from the public view so that staff at the zoo could make sure they were eating and growing properly. To celebrate the arrival of the tortoises, Philadelphia Zoo is asking the public to help choose names for them. Staff at the zoo have come up with four groups of names for the quartet which each have different themes:• Female herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians): Mary, Joan, Grace and Hellen (named after Mary Cynthia Dickerson, Joan Beauchamp Proctor, Grace Olive Wiley, Helen Thompson Gaige)• Celebrating Philadelphia: Liberty, Independence (Indy), Betsy and Belle• The Golden Girls: Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia• Fresh Prince of Bel Air: Aunt Viv, Willie, Jazz and AveryPeople are being asked to vote for their favourite set of names for and the winner will be announced on Monday 28 April. Which group of names would you choose for the baby tortoises and why? And are there any names which aren't on the list which you'd choose if you had the chance? Why not let us know in the comments below.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
Endangered Galapagos tortoise babies debut in Philadelphia; zoo needs help picking names
Endangered Galapagos tortoise babies debut in Philadelphia; zoo needs help picking names Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises have been endangered for more than 200 years, with a prime threat being human conflict. Show Caption Hide Caption Century old tortoises become new parents at the Philadelphia Zoo Century old tortoise couple at the Philadelphia Zoo are new parents to four critically endangered Galapagos tortoises. Four critically endangered tortoise babies made their debut at the Philadelphia Zoo this week, just in time for a belated Earth Day celebration. Four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises, born in February, made their debut in the Philadelphia Zoo's Reptile and Amphibian House on Wednesday, April 23. The babies were born to two of the zoo's oldest residents, Mommy and Abrazzo, with each estimated to be about 100 years old. Mommy has resided at the zoo since 1932, and Abrazzo joined more recently in 2020. The four new tortoises are a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan breeding program, which aims to protect species that are endangered and maintain a genetically diverse population. Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are listed as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and have been endangered for more than 200 years, with prime threats being human-wildlife conflict, the introduction of invasive species and habitat loss, the Philadelphia Zoo reports. The last batch of Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises to hatch in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo was in 2019 at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina. Zoo asks for help in naming babies The zoo is looking for help in naming its new residents. Zoo staff came up with four different name combinations, based on varying themes: Female herpetologists: Mary, Joan, Grace and Hellen (named after Mary Cynthia Dickerson, Joan Beauchamp Proctor, Grace Olive Wiley and Helen Thompson Gaige) Mary, Joan, Grace and Hellen (named after Mary Cynthia Dickerson, Joan Beauchamp Proctor, Grace Olive Wiley and Helen Thompson Gaige) Celebrating Philadelphia: Liberty, Independence (Indy), Betsy and Belle Liberty, Independence (Indy), Betsy and Belle Golden Girls: Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia "In West Philadelphia born and raised...": Aunt Viv, Willie, Jazz and Avery (named after "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air") Voting is available on the Philadelphia Zoo website through 11:59 p.m. local time on Sunday, April 27. Here's what to know about visiting the Philadelphia Zoo The Philadelphia Zoo is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Admission for non-members is between $20 and $34. Children under the age of 2 are admitted for free. The zoo also offers behind-the-scenes visits with Mommy and Abrazzo on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. local time. Tickets are $65 per person and do not include zoo admission. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
South China Morning Post
21-04-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Philadelphia Zoo celebrates first Galapagos tortoise hatchlings in 150-year history
A pair of critically endangered, nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoises at the Philadelphia Zoo in the US have become first-time parents. The zoo said it was 'overjoyed' at the arrival of the four hatchlings, the first in its more than 150 years of history. The babies are the offspring of the female, Mommy, and male Abrazzo. The quartet is being kept behind the scenes inside the Reptile and Amphibian House, 'eating and growing appropriately,' the zoo said. They weigh between 70 and 80 grams. Mommy is recognised as one of the most genetically important Galapagos tortoises in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' species survival plan. She is the oldest first-time mother of the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos species. Answer: four hatchlings were born
