Presidential Turkeys Come to San Jose

Two turkeys that survived Thanksgiving because of their connections to President Barack Obama have a new home at Happy Hallow Park and Zoo in San Jose.

The 45-pound male turkeys, or toms, were part of a flock of 25 turkeys that participated in the National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

They moved into the zoo's Double "H" Ranch on Thursday, according to the zoo's website.

Every year since 1947, the president pardons one lucky bird from becoming part of someone's Thanksgiving feast. Althought these two never got to meet the president for an official pardoning, they still managed not to get eaten.

The presidential flock of 25 turkeys was selected out of 20,000 turkeys raised by Foster Farms in Modesto.

"It gives us the opportunity to showcase a unique breed originating from the Americas,” curator Valerie Riegel said.

The Nicholas Strain birds originating in Sonoma Valley have colorful heads and thick white feathers, but are missing a key piece of their identity: a name.

You can help name the turkeys at Happy Hallow's website. The top three names will be put to a vote in January.

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