Philadelphia Zoo has announced four critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise hatchlings born to a mom that’s nearly 100 years old. The zoo says the hatchlings are the zoo’s first in its 150-year history.
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“These babies are big deal for a few reasons,” Philadelphia Zoo wrote in an Instagram post sharing a video of the mom and her babies. “Their parents, Mommy and Abrazzo, are the two oldest animals at the Zoo, estimated to be around 100 years old. [. . .] [Mommy has] become the oldest first-time mom of her species! These newest additions represent a new genetic lineage and some much-needed help to the species’ population.”
How incredible that this species has the longevity to produce offspring after a century of living! The hatchlings are very cute, too. On its Instagram page, the zoo shared footage of the babies hatching from their eggs, bobbing their heads adorably, and walking clumsily to nibble on some lettuce. Even more tortoises could hatch from Mommy’s clutch in coming weeks.
See the adorable hatchlings (and this incredible 100-year-old first-time mom) here: