Dec 22, 2025 - Culture

Philadelphia Zoo's new animals in 2025

Mike D'Onofrio

Three tortoises at the Philadelphia Zoo — These new Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises can live beyond a century. Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo's animal population grew by leaps and bounds this year.

The big picture: The zoo is readying upgrades for 2026, including the Carey Bear Country facility — a dedicated den space for cub rearing.

Plus: The project will add to the zoo's network of see-through mesh animal trails, known as Zoo360, to allow bears to rotate among their habitats.

Here are some of the new residents that arrived this year:

A creep of tortoises

A endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises at the Philadelphia Zoo — This cutie pie has many, many brothers and sisters. Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

The zoo's new 16 Galápagos tortoise hatchlings — offspring of first-time parents Mommy and Abrazzo — made the biggest splash this year, drawing headlines around the world.

Tiger-tastic!

Close-up of a tiger with orange fur and black stripes standing on green grass, looking directly at the camera with alert eyes against a blurred green background. — Are you looking at me? Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

Rory is a 4-year-old Amur tiger, clocking in at nearly 300 pounds and boasting longer whiskers than any other tiger at the zoo.

Twinsies x2

Two baby tamarin monkeys with gray fur and dark faces huddled closely together, showing a tender and protective pose. — These pied tamarin twins have yet to be named. Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

Two sets of tamarin twins were born this year at the zoo, the first in February and another in September.

The older twins were named Linus and Lucy, while the most recent two have yet to be named.

Colobus Monkey

A small white baby monkey clings to the black and white fur of a larger monkey, looking upward with a calm expression. — This little colobus monkey will eventually have black and white fur. Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

Yeti was born back in January and was the first baby colobus money birthed at the zoo since 2015.

A flock of flamingos

Several Greater African flamingos standing and surrounded by green vegetation. — Greater African flamingos doing their thing. Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

Fourteen African greater flamingos arrived for the new Flamingo Cove habitat, which opened in June.

They joined 10 Caribbean flamingos, who are long-standing residents at the zoo.

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