Tortoises in US zoo become parents at 100-years-old
A pair of tortoises have become first-time parents at 100-years-old at an American Zoo. The zoo in Philadelphia said it was “overjoyed” following four hatchlings from Abrazzo and Mommy. The pair belong to the critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise species and births were a first for the zoo’s 150-year history.
Mommy, who arrived in 1932, was the oldest known first-time mother of the species. Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are critically endangered in the wild and there are less then 50 kept in zoos in America.
The first of the eggs by Abrazzo and Mommy hatched in February, with the others following shortly after. The animal care team is keeping a close eye on the remaining eggs which could still hatch over the coming weeks.
The four hatchlings tip the scales at between 70 and 80 grams. They are kept behind-the-scenes in Philadelphia Zoo’s Reptile and Amphibian House. The zoo said they are “eating and growing appropriately.” A public debut of them is planned for 23rd April, the 93rd anniversary of Mommy’s arrival at the zoo.
They are part its breeding programme, hoping to help the tortoises bounce back from the brink of extinction, while also working towards maintaining genetic diversty.
“This is a significant milestone in the history of Philadelphia Zoo, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this news with our city, region and the world,” zoo president and CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman said in a statement. “Mommy arrived at the zoo in 1932, meaning anyone that has visited the zoo for the last 92 years has likely seen her.”
Abrazzo is a recent arrival. He moved to Philadelphia in 2020, having previously been housed at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina.
“Philadelphia Zoo’s vision is that those hatchlings will be a part of a thriving population of Galapagos tortoises on our healthy planet 100 years from now,” she added.
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