Philly’s new big cats, PGW rate hike reduction, watershed survey & more

Rory Tiger Zoo, courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Philadelphia Zoo welcomes two feline arrivals. Rory, a female Amur tiger, and Rafferty, a male Amur leopard, are Philadelphia Zoo’s newest residents. Both big cats came to the Zoo on an Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation in the hopes that they will mate with other residents to extend the longevity of their species.

Coalition celebrates proposed PGW settlement over rate hikes. Energy Justice Advocates, a coalition of community environmental policy groups, are celebrating a proposed settlement with PGW that would reduce PGW’s yearly rate increase by 40%. Revenue at PGW has reportedly been declining due to “energy efficiency and electrification,” which the company is trying to recover by increasing customer rates, according to coalition member POWER Interfaith.

Climate change impacts first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Hurricane Erin reached Category 5 strength over the weekend as a result of “exceptionally warm ocean waters…due to human-caused climate change,” according to Climate Central. The hurricane is now a Category 2, causing powerful waves of 15-20 feet moving along the East Coast.

Survey open for watershed input. Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) is launching a project to improve water quality, reduce pollution, and restore habitats in the TTF watershed. TTF is asking Philadelphia and Montgomery County residents to fill out a Community Perceptions Survey to help shape the project. Survey participants can enter to win a $100 Wawa gift card.

Cover photo: Rory the Amur tiger, courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

Angie Bacha

Angie Bacha (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based solutions journalist and recent Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media and Globalisation student in Aarhus, Denmark. Previously, she worked as a student journalist at Community College of Philadelphia and Editorial Intern at Resolve Philly. Some other hats she has worn: Human Rights and Theatre Studies graduate; teaching artist; carpenter; AmeriCorps volunteer; and rock climbing gym shift supervisor.