Just a few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Zoo celebrated an amazing milestone! Its oldest resident, a 97-year-old Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise named Mommy, has recently become a first-time parent. On 9 November 2024, Mommy dug a nest and laid a clutch of 16 eggs. The incubators worked, and our first hatchlings came out on February 27, 2025! If approved, this initiative would provide an exciting opportunity for the zoo. It has played an important role in saving one of the most endangered species on earth, the Santa Cruz Island tortoise from Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands.
Mommy’s eggs have hatched, welcoming a new generation of Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises into the world. Most excitingly, all the hatchlings are female! These tortoises have endless obstacles in the wild. Habitat loss and climate change are two of the biggest threats these majestic birds and other wildlife face today. The Philadelphia Zoo plays a crucial role in providing care and promoting awareness of the challenges faced by this species.
The zoo is particularly looking forward to this monumental event! Visitors will have the chance to meet Mommy’s hatchlings at the Zoo’s Reptile and Amphibian House on April 23. This rare occasion will surely capture the public’s attention and help spread the word on the critical need for conservation initiatives. This final arrival of the hatchlings provides us unique insight into both a brilliant future and disappointing reality for their species. Beyond that, it spurs long-term conservation efforts.
