Philadelphia Zoo Celebrates Historic Hatching of Critically Endangered Galapagos Tortoises

Four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise hatchlings, born to 97-year-old first-time mother Mommy, mark a conservation milestone and the zoo's first successful breeding of the species.

The Philadelphia Zoo announced the successful hatching of four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise hatchlings, a first in its 150-year history.
Mommy, a 97-year-old tortoise, became the oldest known first-time mother of her species, highlighting the significance of this achievement for conservation efforts.
The breeding was part of the AZA Species Survival Plan, which aims to protect critically endangered species and ensure genetic diversity.
The hatchlings, currently healthy and being cared for behind the scenes, will make their public debut on April 23, 2025, coinciding with the 93rd anniversary of Mommy’s arrival at the zoo.
This marks the first successful hatching of this species in an accredited U.S. zoo since 2019 and contributes to the global effort to conserve the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise.

The Philadelphia Inquirer