Latest news with #RonMagill
NBC News
2 hours ago
- Health
- NBC News
Thousands of tarantulas expected to appear in these five states during mating season
Male tarantulas are gearing up to look for a mate, leading to a surge of spider sightings in the Southwestern U.S. over the next few months. Across states like California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas, tens of thousands of tarantulas are on the hunt for their perfect match, and some people are seeing the eight-legged critters in droves. During an interview on TODAY that aired July 30, Ron Magill, communications director of Zoo Miami, explained why people in those states are set to see more tarantulas. 'At this time of year, when it's time to look for the females, they risk their lives,' Magill said. 'They leave their burrows. They go out searching until they can find those females.' Male tarantulas can travel as many as 20 miles in their pursuit of a romantic rendezvous — which often ends in the ultimate sacrifice, experts said. 'More often than not, after breeding with a female, the male dies and the female eats it,' Magill said. 'This is really giving it all up for love,' he added. There are more than 1,000 species of tarantulas, some of which can reach the size of a dinner plate, with dozens of species found in the U.S. While the size of the creatures can cause fear in some people, tarantulas are gentle, and their venom, while potent, is usually not dangerous in humans. However, some people can get skin irritation from picking up the spiders due to little hairs found on their bodies. Some people can also be allergic and wind up in the hospital. Experts said the best bet is to leave the arachnids alone if a person happens to come across one. Aside from looking for love, they also have an important job to do this summer. 'Spiders play such a huge role in keeping ecological balance,' Magill said. The rise in tarantula sightings is in line with other surges in bugs across the U.S. There has been a 20% to 30% increase in tick-related emergency room visits in the Northeastern U.S. compared to last year, NBC Connecticut reported, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'Some years are hot tick years and some aren't. Now, this happens to be a hot tick year,' Thomas Daniels of the Fordham University Louis Calder Center, who manages Fordham University's Tick Index, told NBC Connecticut. The 2025 cicada bloom also brought billions of cicadas rising out of the ground in the South, Midwest and Northeast this summer, affecting 12 states from Georgia to Massachusetts.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Giant tortoise Goliath becomes a father at 135!
A Galapagos tortoise named Goliath celebrated his 135th birthday on Father's reaching an impressive age isn't the only special event that's happened in his life recently. Up until this year, the giant tortoise, which lives at Zoo Miami in Florida and weighs more than 230 kilograms, had never had any offspring of his own. That all changed when one egg out of a group of eight hatched on 4 June, making him a father for the very first time. It means his latest birthday also turned out to be his very first Father's Day. The new baby tortoise is also a big deal as it's the first time in the history of Zoo Miami that a Galapagos tortoise has species of giant tortoise are currently under threat and some have already gone extinct. Goliath first came to the US in 1929, and was eventually brought to Zoo Miami in 1981. Despite breeding with several females during his time at the zoo, Goliath had never successfully produced any offspring. The new tortoise's mother, called Sweet Pea, is thought to be between 85 and 100 years old. Both Goliath and Sweet Pea are said to be doing well and the hatchling is being looked after in a separate enclosure. "Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!" Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement."He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!"
New York Post
16-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Galapagos tortoise celebrates his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day at Zoo Miami
MIAMI (AP) — A South Florida zoo's oldest resident celebrated his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day on Sunday. Goliath, a 517-pound (234-kilogram) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, became a father for the first time earlier this month, zoo officials said. 'Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!' Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. 'He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!' 4 Goliath is celebrating his first Father's Day. Ron Magill / Zoo Miami / Facebook 4 Goliath is a father for the first time at 135 years old. Ron Magill / Zoo Miami / Facebook One egg out of a clutch of eight laid on Jan. 27 successfully hatched on June 4, officials said. Besides being Goliath's first offspring, it's also the first time one of the endangered reptiles has hatched at Zoo Miami. The animals' numbers were drastically reduced before the 20th century by human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands. Modern threats include climate change and habitat loss. According to Goliath's official record, he hatched on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15, between 1885 and 1890. The island group is located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred miles west of mainland Ecuador. 4 Goliath is the world's oldest animal. Ron Magill / Zoo Miami / Facebook Goliath arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and moved to Zoo Miami in 1981. He has bred with several different females during his time at Zoo Miami, but he has never sired an offspring. The new hatchling's mother, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. 4 Goliath is seen here with his child. Ron Magill / Zoo Miami / Facebook Both parents are doing well in their public habitat, officials said. The hatchling appears to be healthy in a separate enclosure. Wild hatchlings are not raised by their parents.
NBC News
16-06-2025
- General
- NBC News
Galapagos tortoise celebrates his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day at Zoo Miami
MIAMI — A South Florida zoo's oldest resident celebrated his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day on Sunday. Goliath, a 517-pound Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, became a father for the first time earlier this month, zoo officials said. 'Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!' Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. 'He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!' One egg out of a clutch of eight laid on Jan. 27 successfully hatched on June 4, officials said. Besides being Goliath's first offspring, it is also the first time one of the endangered reptiles has hatched at Zoo Miami. The animals' numbers were drastically reduced before the 20th century by human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands. Modern threats include climate change and habitat loss. According to Goliath's official record, he hatched on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15, between 1885 and 1890. The island group is located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred miles west of mainland Ecuador. Goliath arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and moved to Zoo Miami in 1981. He has bred with several different females during his time at Zoo Miami, but he has never sired an offspring. The new hatchling's mother, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. Both parents are doing well in their public habitat, officials said. The hatchling appears to be healthy in a separate enclosure. Wild hatchlings are not raised by their parents.
NDTV
16-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Galapagos Tortoise Celebrates 135th Birthday And His First Father's Day at Zoo Miami
Father's Day at Zoo Miami was extra special as Goliath, a 517-pound Galapagos tortoise, turned 135 years old and also celebrated his first Father's Day on Sunday - a stunning double milestone after he became a father for the first time earlier this month at Zoo Miami. Zoo Miami noted that Goliath's official record has him hatching out on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15, 1885, but this is his first confirmed offspring at least in the past 40 years. Goliath arrived at the Bronx Zoo on July 23, 1929. After that, he finally came to Zoo Miami on July 30, 1981. He had bred with several different females, but never had a chance of becoming successful during his time at Zoo Miami. Also Read | On Camera: Snake Slithers Into Crowded Waterfall In Mussoorie, Sparking Panic And Chaos "Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others! He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!" Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. Goliath became a father when one egg out of a clutch of eight successfully hatched on June 4, officials said. "Not only is this the first offspring for Goliath, but it is also the first time in the history of Zoo Miami that a Galapagos tortoise has hatched, making this a historic event on multiple levels!" the post read. Galapagos tortoise The Galapagos tortoise is a very large species of tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis. The species comprises 15 subspecies. It is the largest living species of tortoise and can weigh up to 417 kg. They are also the largest extant terrestrial cold-blooded animals. The Galapagos tortoise's population numbers were once drastically reduced as it is listed as an endangered species, with a fall in numbers as a result of exploitation and habitat disruption. Modern threats of climate change and ongoing habitat loss contribute to conservation urgency.
