Two of the Philadelphia Zoo’s oldest residents, a pair of nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoises, have become first-time parents, marking a historic event for the zoo. The female, known as Mommy, and the male, Abrazzo, welcomed four hatchlings, a first in the zoo’s 150-year history. Weighing between 70 and 80 grams, the babies are being closely monitored by the zoo’s animal care team. Mommy, a genetically valuable tortoise, is the oldest first-time mom of her species within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ species survival plan.
The hatchlings will eventually be a part of a thriving population of Galapagos tortoises on a healthy planet, according to the zoo’s President and CEO. This milestone is a significant achievement for the Philadelphia Zoo and has generated excitement locally and globally. The last clutch of such tortoises to hatch at an AZA-accredited zoo was in 2019, underscoring the rarity of this event.
The zoo plans to introduce the hatchlings to the public on April 23 and will hold a naming contest for them. The announcement has drawn attention to the conservation efforts being made to preserve endangered species like the Galapagos tortoises. The zoo hopes that these new arrivals will contribute to the continued survival of their species for future generations.
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