A Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise gave birth to four babies at the Philadelphia Zoo, making history along the way. The 97-year-old tortoise named Mommy finally lived up to her name after becoming the oldest first-time mom of her species when she gave birth to four babies.
The 97-year-old Mommy and her 96-year-old partner Abrazzo are the two oldest animals at the Philadelphia Zoo, and they’re finally proud parents of four babies. The four hatchlings are presumed to be female, and they might be joined by more siblings because several of Mommy’s eggs still remain unhatched.
Lauren Augustine, the Philadelphia Zoo’s director of herpetology and birds, considers the birth of four babies a historic moment, considering how genetically valuable their species is.
“Mommy is considered one of the most genetically valuable Galapagos tortoises in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP)… With their ages and the fact that Mommy is so genetically valuable being a wild animal, this is such a huge success and accomplishment,” Augustine told The Washington Post.
The four hatchlings are currently being taken care of at the Reptile and Amphibian House, and they’ll make their first public appearance on April 23 – the 93rd anniversary of Mommy’s arrival at the Philadelphia Zoo.
