Spring signals new residents at Franklin Park Zoo

Spring has sprung. The birds are singing, the flowers are in bloom and the prairie dogs are barking.

Springtime at the Franklin Park Zoo doesn’t just mean nice weather. It typically means a new crop of zoo residents and this year was no exception.

On April 24th, a wattled crane hatched, the first time the zoo welcomed a newborn of the species in the 111-year history of the zoo. The “strong and curious” chick underwent a routine checkup on Thursday, weighing in at 10 ounces.

According to zoo officials, waddled cranes are especially difficult to breed in human care due to small clutch sizes and irregular breeding cycles.

“We couldn’t be happier about the successful hatch,” said John Linehan, President and CEO of Zoo New England. “Wattled cranes are a magnificent species and we’re excited for the opportunity for our guests to watch the chick grow.”

The waddled crane is the largest of all African cranes are listed as vulnerable on the Threatened Species list due to hunting, loss of wetlands and climate change.

Baby Alert! A wattled crane chick hatched at #FPZoo on April 24. Keeper Tip: To find the chick in its habitat, look for the adults. The fluffy brown chick is growing strong under the watchful eye of these first-time parents.

More on our zoo baby boom ➡️ https://t.co/zywhS8tMik pic.twitter.com/kBlZ8BLZLS
— Zoo New England (@zoonewengland) May 4, 2023

A day after the zoo’s new feathered friend arrived, five new prairie dog make their exhibit debuts, leaving the cold dark tunnels behind for the quickly warming surface.

The zoo believes the pups were born on March 15. Born hairless and blind, pups don’t leave their burrows until they’re around six weeks old. Although five can currently be seen exploring their new exhibit, the zoo won’t officially know how many new members of the colony there are until all the animals leave their burrows at the end of May.

Despite their names, prairie dogs are not actually canines, but rodents. The Praire Dogs live in groups called towns or colonies.

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