Mommy, a Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger porteri) who got here to the Philadelphia Zoo in 1932 has simply turn out to be a mother for the primary time ever, making her the oldest identified first time mother for her species in captivity, in keeping with the zoo. She is estimated to be round 100 years outdated. The daddy, Abrazzo can also be about the identical age.
The primary of the 4 hatchlings broke out of her shell February 27, the opposite three adopted shortly after and extra might presumably be coming within the subsequent a number of days. At the moment behind the scenes within the zoo’s Reptile and Amphibian Home, the 4 hatchlings will make their public debut April 23, which coincides with the 93rd anniversary of Mommy coming to the zoo.
“This can be a important milestone within the historical past of Philadelphia Zoo, and we couldn’t be extra excited to share this information with our metropolis, area, and the world,” Philadelphia Zoo President & CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman mentioned in a press launch. “Mommy arrived on the Zoo in 1932, which means anybody that has visited the Zoo for the final 92 years has doubtless seen her. Philadelphia Zoo’s imaginative and prescient is that these hatchlings can be part of a thriving inhabitants of Galapagos tortoises on our wholesome planet 100 years from now.”
Mommy is about 100 years outdated. Photograph by Philadelphia Zoo
The zoo has been working to efficiently breed Abrazzo and Mommy since December 2020, when Abrazzo got here to the zoo from the Riverbanks Zoo and Backyard in South Carolina on a Galapagos Tortoise Species Survival Plan program. New substrate was bought that enabled Mommy to put eggs. She first laid eggs in 2023, leading to 4 clutches of eggs. The primary three resulted in non-viable eggs, the fourth clutch, laid in November 2024 was viable. Mommy laid a complete of 16 eggs. They had been then separated and incubated in keeping with temperature in hopes of hatching 8 females and eight males. The 4 which have hatched up to now are all feminine.
Warming Temperatures Will Improve Feminine Galapagos Tortoise Inhabitants, Examine Says
“As an AZA accredited establishment, we take nice duty taking part within the Galapagos Tortoise Species Survival Plan, and are thrilled for this profitable pairing of Mommy and Abrazzo,” says Vice President of Animal Effectively-Being and Conservation Rachel Metz. “At one level, every of the Galapagos Islands had its personal distinctive Galapagos tortoise, however sadly, a number of of them are actually extinct. These hatchlings not solely defend the species from extinction, however function essential ambassadors to encourage friends to avoid wasting wildlife and wild locations.”
Western Santa Cruz Island Galapagos Tortoise Data
The Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise is a subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise and is barely discovered on the southwestern slopes of the Santa Cruz island within the Galapagos island chain. The critically endangered species has a life expectancy of about 175 years and is understood for its domed, black, oval carapace. It’s estimated that there are 3,400 people within the wild on Santa Cruz Island.
