Baby Galapagos Tortoises Shown to Public for the First Time – YouTube
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Four endangered turtle hatchlings are eagerly on display at the Philadelphia Zoo, becoming the first offspring of their 100-year-old mother, Momma.
Mommy, a western Galapagos tortoise from Santa Cruz (Chelonoidis niger porteri), made international headlines earlier this month when she became the oldest first-time mother of her species. Mommy's exact age is unknown, but she is approximately 100 years old, and has spent more than 90 of those years in zoo custody.
The new hatchlings mark the first time the Philadelphia Zoo has bred Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises in its more than 150-year history. Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are endangered in their native Galapagos Islands, and there are fewer than 50 of them in U.S. zoos.
The zoo introduced Mammy's four daughters on Wednesday (April 23), and reporters lined up to capture photos and videos of the new stars. The day also marked the 93rd anniversary of Mammy's arrival at the zoo.
“THEY ARE FINALLY HERE!” a Philadelphia Zoo spokesperson wrote in a Facebook post. “Momma Galapagos tortoise's four baby turtles just made their public debut in the Reptile and Amphibian House in honor of Momma's 93rd birthday at the Zoo.”
The Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise is a subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise, which is the largest species of tortoise on the planet. Males — typically larger than females — can reach lengths of about 1.8 meters (6 feet) and weigh up to 570 pounds (260 kilograms), according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Human activity has driven several species of Galapagos tortoises to extinction, with the western Galapagos Santa Cruz tortoise numbering in the thousands. The tortoises have historically suffered from human harvesting for their meat, and their ecosystem has been disrupted by invasive species, including predators such as cats and rats that prey on young tortoises and their eggs, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.
Mammy's new babies are part of a captive breeding program at U.S. zoos to protect the Galapagos Islands' western Santa Cruz tortoises. Because Mammy has never bred before, this is the first time she has passed on her genes, helping to maintain genetic diversity and the health of the captive population.
“These recent additions represent a new genetic line and a much-needed boost to the population of this critically endangered and protected species,” a zoo spokesman said.
The hatchlings may have a long life ahead of them. Researchers can't pinpoint the maximum lifespan of Galapagos tortoises, but one individual has been recorded living to 171 years old, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Once they reach maturity, the tortoises typically remain reproductively active for the rest of their lives and may continue to reproduce into old age.
Patrick PesterNavigate Social LinksPopular News Author
Patrick Pester is a well-known news writer for Live Science. His work has appeared on other science platforms such as BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick transitioned to journalism after working in zoos and wildlife conservation early in his career. He received a Master's Excellence Scholarship to study at Cardiff University, where he completed an MA in International Journalism. He also holds a second MA in Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation in Action from Middlesex University in London. When not writing news, Patrick studies the human remains trade.
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