Four critically endangered Galapagos tortoises just hatched in Pennsylvania—and their mother is nearly a century old. 🌐 #News #PhiladelphiaPA #Pennsylvania #PetsAndAnimals
PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the first time since its founding in 1874, the Philadelphia Zoo has welcomed a clutch of Galapagos tortoise hatchlings—four tiny newcomers born to the Zoo’s oldest residents in what’s being celebrated as a groundbreaking moment for global conservation efforts right here in Pennsylvania.
Tortoise Legacy Born a Century Later
In a feat years in the making, four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises recently emerged from their eggs behind the scenes at the Zoo, each weighing around 70 to 80 grams. But it’s their mother, aptly named Mommy, who’s grabbing headlines. At roughly 100 years old, Mommy is now recognized as the oldest first-time mother of her species ever recorded in a U.S. zoo.
Her mate, Abrazzo, also approximately 100 years old, was brought in from Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina back in 2020 as part of a carefully orchestrated breeding effort through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP). The pair’s latest clutch, laid in November 2024, finally produced viable eggs after several prior attempts.
Behind-the-Scenes Success Story
Zookeepers and specialists from the reptile and amphibian team closely monitored the development, using precise incubation techniques to encourage the birth of females—an intentional step to support the growth of the dwindling Galapagos population. The Zoo’s leadership praised the breakthrough as a vital step toward a healthier planet and a hopeful future for endangered reptiles…