See ‘rambunctious’ bear cubs born at Philly zoo. They’re named after hometown heroes

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Twin bear cubs were recently unveiled at a Pennsylvania zoo, marking a “historic moment,” the zoo said.

The cubs are sloth bears — a shaggy species native to the Indian subcontinent — and they are the first pair to be born at the Philadelphia Zoo in over three decades, according to a news release.

After their birth in January, they remained helpless and hidden in their den with their mother. But now, the 4-month-olds have ventured out and made their much-anticipated debut.

“These rambunctious toddlers are sure to steal the hearts of many of our guests,” Maggie Morse, the curator of carnivores and ungulates, said in the release.

While announcing their first appearance, the zoo asked for members of the public to help name the pair of furry creatures.

Philadelphians voted in favor of the names Kelce and Harper in a nod to Jason Kelce, a center for the Eagles, and Bryce Harper, a designated hitter for the Phillies.

The bears’ birth was part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, which promotes the long-term stability of various threatened species.

Populations of wild sloth bears, which inhabit a stretch of forested land across India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, have been declining “dramatically” over the past few decades because of poaching, habitat loss and other factors, zoo officials said.

The bears, which feast on insects, flowers, fruits and honey, are now considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an international conservation organization.

The birth of the twins is “incredibly important to the protection of this species and we are excited for guests to come to the zoo and see for themselves what amazing animals they are,” Rachel Metz, the zoo’s vice president of animal well-being, said in the release.

The freshly unveiled and newly named cubs can be viewed via livestream at any time, and the best time to watch the duo is in the morning, zoo officials said.

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