In a remarkable event at the Philadelphia Zoo, a nearly century-old Galapagos tortoise has become a mother for the first time, successfully hatching four baby tortoises. This historic birth marks the first time Galapagos tortoises have hatched at the zoo in its 150-year history.
The proud mother, known as "Mommy," who has been a resident at the Philadelphia Zoo since 1932, and father "Abrazzo" are both critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises. The pair are the zoo's oldest inhabitants.
The first hatchling emerged on February 27, with the newborns weighing between 70 and 80 grams - comparable to the weight of a chicken egg. The zoo's animal care team continues to monitor additional eggs that may still hatch.
Currently, the four baby tortoises are being cared for in a specialized area within the Reptile and Amphibian House, where they are developing healthily and maintaining proper eating habits.
"This is an extraordinary milestone for Philadelphia Zoo," said Jo-Elle Mogerman, President and CEO. She highlighted how Mommy has been a familiar sight to visitors for over nine decades and expressed hope that these hatchlings will contribute to a flourishing Galapagos tortoise population in the coming century.
Mommy's achievement is particularly noteworthy as she holds valuable genetic traits critical for the species' survival. She now holds the distinction of being the oldest first-time mother among Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises.
The Philadelphia Zoo plans to introduce these remarkable hatchlings to the public on April 23, accompanied by a special naming contest for visitors to participate in.
The successful breeding adds Philadelphia Zoo to a select group of institutions, including the San Diego Zoo, Zoo Miami, and Honolulu Zoo, that maintain breeding pairs of these endangered tortoises. The last successful hatching of this species at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility occurred in 2019 at South Carolina's Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.