Galapagos tortoises make historic debut at Philadelphia zoo
At the Philadelphia Zoo, four Galapagos tortoises were born, and their mother is a 97-year-old female named Mommy.
The Philadelphia Zoo proudly announced the birth of four Galapagos tortoises, marking the first such event in the zoo's more than 150-year history. These tortoises are native to Santa Cruz Island, with an estimated wild population of about 3,400 individuals.
Something incredible is happening at Philadelphia Zoo! We're overjoyed to announce the hatching of four critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises for the first time in the Zoo’s 150+ year history! — you can read on the Philadelphia Zoo's Facebook profile.
As "ABC News" points out, the parents of the newly born tortoises are Mommy and Abrazzo, the zoo's oldest residents, who are estimated to be around 100 years old. Mommy is particularly valuable genetically, as emphasized by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Her offspring are crucial for the survival of the species, which is critically endangered.
The main threats to Galapagos tortoises are the consequences of human activity. Tortoises are losing their natural habitats. Deforestation, land drainage, and the introduction of invasive species to Galapagos tortoise habitats also pose significant problems. In addition, direct human attacks on these animals contribute to their extinction.
New life at the zoo
The small tortoises currently weigh a little less than 115 grams, which is about the weight of a chicken egg. Visitors will be able to see them at the end of April. As "ABC News" points out, Mommy arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo in 1932 and is part of the Galapagos Tortoise Species Survival Plan. Since 2023, she has laid four clutches of eggs, with only the last one resulting in offspring.
Each of the Galapagos Islands once had its unique tortoise, but many of them became extinct due to hunting. Galapagos tortoises are the largest living tortoises, with males weighing up to 400 kilograms. Scientists estimate that they can live from 100 to 200 years, and currently, there are 13 endemic subspecies across seven islands.
