Latest news with #PhiladelphiaZoo
CBS News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Philadelphia Zoo embraces 9 more critically endangered Galápagos tortoises born to first time parents
The Philadelphia Zoo celebrated a slow and steady success in conservation: the hatching of nine new critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galápagos tortoises. The new arrivals were revealed Wednesday outside the zoo's Reptile & Amphibian House, marking a historic moment for the zoo and for the species. The nine new babies join seven siblings born last year, all to the zoo's beloved tortoise pair, Mommy and Abrazzo, who are estimated to be 97 and 96 years old, respectively. That brings their total clutch to 16 hatchlings — a significant boost for a species teetering on the edge of extinction. "Even as a kid, I was into the giant tortoises," said visitor Dirk Kinsey. "It's super fun to see them up close." Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology, said these hatchlings aren't just adorable; they're vital. "Not only were we able to reproduce these extremely genetically valuable animals," Augustine said, "and increased the population in human care in North America from 44 individuals to 60." Because Mommy has been at the zoo since 1932, Augustine said her legacy will now live on through her offspring for "hopefully another 100 years." Two of the new tortoises have already been named Roger and Isabella. A new fundraising campaign gives donors the opportunity to name one of the animals. For every $25 donation, supporters receive one entry to win naming rights for one of the male hatchlings. Proceeds go directly to animal care and conservation. "Rocky would be a very good tortoise name," Kinsey said. The tale of Mommy and Abrazzo has reached over 16 billion people worldwide, and has been featured in 16,000+ media stories and mentioned on Saturday Night Live. It's gone viral on every major social media platform. "We are so proud to replicate that success," said Augustine. "It shows what we can achieve together in the name of conservation."
BreakingNews.ie
6 hours ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Tortoise hatchlings of century-old parents come out of their shells at US zoo
Sixteen critically endangered tortoises born to some very old parents got the red carpet treatment at a US zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings. The pampered tortoises were born in a series of hatches this year to Mommy and Abrazzo, a couple estimated to both be around 100-years-old, at Philadelphia Zoo. Advertisement Mommy arrived at the zoo in 1932, but had not produced offspring until Abrazzo was brought in nearly five years ago from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina. Staff pose for photographs with 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings during their debut at Philadelphia Zoo (Matt Rourke/AP) 'Now this animal, who's been in Philadelphia since 1932, will be represented here for, hopefully, another 100 years because her offspring are now part of our collection,' said Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology. Four females that hatched early this spring were named after characters in the TV show Golden Girls. Three males were hatched in April, and that was followed by Mommy's second clutch, which resulted in three females in June and six males this summer. Advertisement The hatchlings are said to be eating well and growing. Mommy, a nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise, extends her neck as a staff member scratches her chin (Matt Rourke/AP) Mommy and Abrazzo are the Philadelphia Zoo's oldest inhabitants and seen as highly genetically valuable for the survival of the species. Their offspring are considered a win in the effort to preserve western Santa Cruz tortoises. They are expected to remain at the zoo for at least a year before being placed in different facilities next fall. Advertisement Western Santa Cruz tortoises are among the 13 living species of tortoise native to seven islands in the Galapagos chain in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador. A staff member holds one of the 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings (Matt Rourke/AP) The largest species of tortoise, they are thought to live as long as 200 years. The zoo is soliciting donors to suggest names for one of the hatchlings, a male, subject to zoo approval. Others are named Zee, James, Colette, Soledad, Isabelle, Roger, Fausto, Caldero, Lee, Marigold Puddlefoot and Kelpy. Advertisement The zoo uses non-toxic nail polish in different colours to distinguish them from each other. Mommy, left, and Abrazzo, in their enclosure at Philadelphia Zoo (Matt Rourke/AP) Philadelphia Zoo also has two giant Aldabra tortoises, Wilma and Betty. A 135-year-old Galapagos tortoise named Goliath became a father for the first time at Zoo Miami in June.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Tortoise hatchlings born of century-old parents come out of their shells at Philadelphia Zoo
Staff members pose for photographs with several of the 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings during their debut at the Philadelphia Zoo on Aug. 20, 2025. (Matt Rourke / AP Photo) PHILADELPHIA — Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings. Animal care specialists who have watched over the 16 since they were eggs held the animals on a pathway by the zoo's tortoise habitat. The hatchlings are said to be eating well and growing. The pampered turtles were born in a series of hatches this year to Mommy and Abrazzo, a couple that is estimated to both be about 100 years old. Mommy arrived at the zoo in 1932, but had not produced offspring until Abrazzo was brought in nearly five years ago from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C. The 16 are her first progeny. 'Now this animal, who's been in Philadelphia since 1932, will be represented here for, hopefully, another 100 years because her offspring are now part of our collection,' said Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology. Four females that hatched early this spring were named after characters in the TV show ' Golden Girls.' Three males were hatched in April, and that was followed by Mommy's second clutch, which resulted in three females in June and six males this summer. Mommy and Abrazzo are the Philadelphia Zoo's oldest inhabitants and seen as highly genetically valuable for the survival of the species. Their offspring are considered a win in the effort to preserve western Santa Cruz tortoises. They are expected to remain at the zoo for at least a year before being placed in different facilities next fall. Western Santa Cruz tortoises are among the 13 living species of tortoise native to seven islands in the Galapagos chain in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador. The largest species of tortoise, they are thought to live as long as 200 years. The zoo is soliciting donors to suggest names for one of the hatchlings, a male, subject to zoo approval. Others are named Zee, James, Colette, Soledad, Isabelle, Roger, Fausto, Caldero, Lee, Marigold Puddlefoot and Kelpy. The zoo uses nontoxic nail polish in different colors to distinguish them from each other. The Philadelphia Zoo also has two giant Aldabra tortoises, Wilma and Betty. A 135-year-old Galapagos tortoise named Goliath became a father for the first time at Zoo Miami in June.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Tortoise hatchlings born of century-old parents come out of their shells at Philadelphia Zoo
Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings. Animal care specialists who have watched over the 16 since they were eggs held the animals on a pathway by the zoo's tortoise habitat. The hatchlings are said to be eating well and growing. The pampered turtles were born in a series of hatches this year to Mommy and Abrazzo, a couple that is estimated to both be about 100 years old. Mommy arrived at the zoo in 1932, but had not produced offspring until Abrazzo was brought in nearly five years ago from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. The 16 are her first progeny. 'Now this animal, who's been in Philadelphia since 1932, will be represented here for, hopefully, another 100 years because her offspring are now part of our collection,' said Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology. Four females that hatched early this spring were named after characters in the TV show ' Golden Girls.' Three males were hatched in April, and that was followed by Mommy's second clutch, which resulted in three females in June and six males this summer. Mommy and Abrazzo are the Philadelphia Zoo's oldest inhabitants and seen as highly genetically valuable for the survival of the species. Their offspring are considered a win in the effort to preserve western Santa Cruz tortoises. They are expected to remain at the zoo for at least a year before being placed in different facilities next fall. Western Santa Cruz tortoises are among the 13 living species of tortoise native to seven islands in the Galapagos chain in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador. The largest species of tortoise, they are thought to live as long as 200 years. The zoo is soliciting donors to suggest names for one of the hatchlings, a male, subject to zoo approval. Others are named Zee, James, Colette, Soledad, Isabelle, Roger, Fausto, Caldero, Lee, Marigold Puddlefoot and Kelpy. The zoo uses nontoxic nail polish in different colors to distinguish them from each other. The Philadelphia Zoo also has two giant Aldabra tortoises, Wilma and Betty. A 135-year-old Galapagos tortoise named Goliath became a father for the first time at Zoo Miami in June.
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Tortoise hatchlings born of century-old parents come out of their shells at Philadelphia Zoo
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings. Animal care specialists who have watched over the 16 since they were eggs held the animals on a pathway by the zoo's tortoise habitat. The hatchlings are said to be eating well and growing. The pampered turtles were born in a series of hatches this year to Mommy and Abrazzo, a couple that is estimated to both be about 100 years old. Mommy arrived at the zoo in 1932, but had not produced offspring until Abrazzo was brought in nearly five years ago from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. The 16 are her first progeny. 'Now this animal, who's been in Philadelphia since 1932, will be represented here for, hopefully, another 100 years because her offspring are now part of our collection,' said Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology. Four females that hatched early this spring were named after characters in the TV show ' Golden Girls.' Three males were hatched in April, and that was followed by Mommy's second clutch, which resulted in three females in June and six males this summer. Mommy and Abrazzo are the Philadelphia Zoo's oldest inhabitants and seen as highly genetically valuable for the survival of the species. Their offspring are considered a win in the effort to preserve western Santa Cruz tortoises. They are expected to remain at the zoo for at least a year before being placed in different facilities next fall. Western Santa Cruz tortoises are among the 13 living species of tortoise native to seven islands in the Galapagos chain in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador. The largest species of tortoise, they are thought to live as long as 200 years. The zoo is soliciting donors to suggest names for one of the hatchlings, a male, subject to zoo approval. Others are named Zee, James, Colette, Soledad, Isabelle, Roger, Fausto, Caldero, Lee, Marigold Puddlefoot and Kelpy. The zoo uses nontoxic nail polish in different colors to distinguish them from each other. The Philadelphia Zoo also has two giant Aldabra tortoises, Wilma and Betty. A 135-year-old Galapagos tortoise named Goliath became a father for the first time at Zoo Miami in June.
