Mommy, the 97-year-old Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise and first-time mum.
Credit: Philadelphia Zoo
Newly-born animals are always a special event at a zoo, but for the Philadelphia Zoo, their latest new additions are somewhat of a miracle.
That’s because the mum is an endangered western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise who is affectionately known as Mommy. Remarkably, she has given birth at the extraordinary age of 97, marking the first successful hatching of her kind in the zoo’s 150-year-old history. The proud father is a 96 year old tortoise by the name of Abrazzo.
Tortoises are capable of breeding into very old age
This miracle of life has been made possible on account of the fact that tortoises (and other reptiles) typically remain capable of reproduction throughout their lives. This enables them to keep breeding well into old age, as has been proven by Mommy. The hatchlings, four tiny tortoises, are doing well and are believed to be female based on the incubation temperature they experienced while developing in their eggs.
The new baby tortoises are currently being kept in the Reptile and Amphibian House and will make their public debut on April 23. This date has been specifically chosen because it marks the 93rd anniversary of Mommy’s arrival at the Philadelphia Zoo, so it will be a double celebration. It has been stated that the baby tortoises will remain at the zoo for at least the next five years.
These new tortoises are the result of a successful captive breeding programme, which is aimed at preserving this endangered species of tortoise. The zoo is now celebrating and excited to see if it can replicate this success at other accredited zoos and safeguard these special creatures further still.
Why is the giant tortoise endangered?
In speaking about the programme, Ashley Ortega from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas said, “Prior to the hatchlings, there were only 44 individual western Santa Cruz giant tortoises in all US zoos combined, so these newest additions represent a new genetic lineage and some much-needed help to the species’ population.”
Sadly, humans are responsible for this wonderful tortoise species being brought to the brink of extinction. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, they first came under threat when sailors historically sought to hunt them as meat. Then, there was the introduction of goats, which not only disrupted their habitat but became competition as they both sought out the same food. Finally, cats and rats have been said to prey on young tortoises and their eggs.
Find more news stories written in English by Donna Williams
