Overview

• The Philadelphia Zoo has successfully bred and hatched four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise hatchlings, the first in its 150-year history.
• The hatchlings, born to nearly 100-year-old parents Mommy and Abrazzo, emerged in late February 2025 and are healthy and growing.
• Mommy, at an estimated 97 years old, is the oldest-known first-time mother of her species, highlighting the rarity of this achievement.
• The breeding effort is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to conserve critically endangered species and enhance genetic diversity.
• The hatchlings will make their public debut on April 23, 2025, coinciding with the 93rd anniversary of Mommy's arrival at the zoo.