Philadelphia Zoo New Sloth Bear Cubs Named After Two Philly Favorites
Philadelphia Zoo New Sloth Bear Cubs Named After Two Philly Favorites
The Philadelphia Zoo has occasionally allowed the public to weigh in on what to name newcomers.
This time, the votes rolled in and showed just how much Philadelphians love their sports.
The two male sloth bear cubs were born on January 2, 2023 to 10-year-old mom Kayla and 10-year-old dad Bhalu. They made their public debut just ahead of the holiday weekend on May 23rd.
Despite popular belief, sloth bears are not related to sloths. Experts say they can move fast and can weigh up to 400 pounds.
The Philadelphia zoo proposed Hall and Oates or Kelce and Harper.
As the votes rolled in, it was clear that the city wanted to honor two of their favorite athletes, Jason Kelce and Bryce Harper.
With the Phillies coming off a World Series run and the Eagles making their way to the Superbowl, there was clearly no competition here.
The votes have been tallied and we're thrilled to officially introduce... Kelce and Harper! 🏈⚾ Thank you to the thousands of fans who helped us choose names for our un-bear-ably cute sloth bear cubs. These two will be out exploring their habitat typically in the afternoons. pic.twitter.com/CiPKNAOvsg
— Philly Zoo (@phillyzoo) May 29, 2023
You can tune into their Live Sloth Bear Cam to check in on the cubs and see how they’re adjusting to life at the zoo.
According to the Philadelphia Zoo website, the birth of the cubs is important for the conservation of this species.
Sloth bears are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
These two will be out on exhibit typically in the afternoons, but will have access to their indoor space.
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