Zoo turtles become parents for the first time … at the age of 100

A pair of critically endangered giant turtles about the age of 100 became parents for the first time at the Philadelphia Zoo.

The zoo said that this week was “rejoiced” upon the arrival of four hatches from Abraco and Mom, a pair of turtles in Western Santa Cruz Galapagos.

Births are “first” in the history of the 150-year-old zoo, she said, and Mama-gailed in 1932 is the oldest known mother for the first time of her appearance.

Western turtles Santa Cruz Galapagos are critically threatened in the wild, and there are less than 50 in American zoo.

The first of Abras and Mom’s eggs hatched on February 27, while others quickly followed. The Zoo Animal Care team is watching others who could still hatch in the coming weeks.

The four hatches weigh between 70 and 80 grams.

They are stored behind the scenes, in the house of reptiles and amphibians in the Zoo of Philadelphia and “feed and grow appropriately,” the zoo said.

He is planning a public debut at the Quartet on Wednesday, April 23, which is “the 93th anniversary of the arrival of a mom at the zoo.”

Hatchlings are part of the Association of the Propaging Program of Zoos and Aquariums aimed at the survival of species and genetic diversity.

“This is an important point in the history of the Philadelphia Zoo and we could not be more excited to share this news with our city, region and the world,” said Zoo President and Executive Director Joe-El Murman.

“Mom arrived at the zoo in 1932, which means that anyone who has visited the zoo in the last 92 years has probably seen her,” said G -Mogerman.

Abrazzo is a newer arrival after moving to Philadelphia in 2020, having previously lived in the zoo and the Riverbanks garden in South Carolina.

“The vision of the Zoo in Philadelphia is that these hatchers will be part of the thriving population of turtles of Galapagos on our healthy planet 100 years now,” she added.