A Century in the Making
In a historic milestone, the Philadelphia Zoo has successfully hatched four critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises – a first in the zoo’s 150-year history. This rare event comes courtesy of two tortoises, affectionately named Mommy and Abrazzo, both estimated to be around 100 years old.
The proud parents waited nearly a century for their first offspring. One of them, Mommy, has been living at the zoo for a remarkable 93 years, arriving in 1932. Her debut as a mother has made her the oldest first-time mum of her species.
Weighing in Small, Dreaming Big
The hatchlings, each weighing just 70 to 80 grams, began emerging on 27 February. For such a significant species, they start their lives tiny, but full of hope for conservation efforts. Galapagos tortoises can live well over 100 years, and their populations have been under threat due to habitat loss and historical overhunting.
The zoo confirmed the hatchlings are Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises, a species classified as critically endangered. The successful breeding is not just a heart-warming animal story; it’s also a victory for global conservation.
Public Debut Set for Earth Week
Zoo visitors will get their first glimpse of the baby tortoises on 23 April, which coincides perfectly with the 93rd anniversary of Mommy’s arrival at the zoo. Keepers and conservationists alike hope the hatchlings will help raise awareness about the fragility of Galapagos species and inspire future efforts to protect them.
“Seeing these little ones hatch was an incredible moment for our team,” said a zoo spokesperson. “It’s a celebration of life, history, and conservation coming together.”
