Endangered Turtles Hatch At Prospect Park Zoo

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There are some new additions to the Prospect Park Zoo.

The Wildlife Conservation Society says five, endangered Chinese big-headed turtles hatched at the zoo in November. It's the first time the species has successfully reproduced at a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, officials said.

"The success we are seeing at this point in our turtle propagation work is encouraging," Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President of Zoos and Aquarium and the Bronx Zoo director, said in a statement.

Watch Video Of The Turtles Hatching Below:

There are now 15 Chinese big-headed turtles at the Bronx and Prospect Park zoos, the largest collection of the species in any AZA-accredited zoo, the WCS said.

The hatchlings and most adults are in off-exhibit areas, but one is on exhibit at the Animals in Our Lives building at the Prospect Park Zoo.

The turtles, which can grow to about seven inches in length, are native to China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Their population is dwindling due to trade demand in parts of Asia, the WCS said.

For more information, visit prospectparkzoo.com.

Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com: