The zoo has been working to successfully breed Abrazzo and Mommy since December 2020, when Abrazzo came to the zoo from the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina on a Galapagos Tortoise Species Survival Plan program.
The Philadelphia Zoo announced that three more critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Island Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis niger porteri) have hatched at the zoo. They are male and join the four siblings, all female, that hatched starting February 27. The first male pipped April 14 with his two siblings following. The zoo had asked the public to come up with names for the four female hatchlings. The public named them the Golden Girls: Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia, after the famous television show of the 1980s. The males are currently without names.
Western Santa Cruz Island Galapagos tortoise pipping. Photo by Philadelphia Zoo
The zoo also announced that it is monitoring eggs that Mommy (the mother of the hatchlings) laid in January 2025. She laid 16 eggs and nine are showing signs of development. Mommy, estimated to be 100 years old and the oldest known first time mom of her species, is one of the most genetically valuable Galapagos tortoises.
“It is a joy to be able to share this next chapter with all those in our region, country and around the world that have been captivated by this story,” President & CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman said in a press release.“Mommy, Abrazzo, and the hatchlings are educating millions of people about their species and conservation. Those folks have become a part of this story. We encourage them to get involved by visiting the babies or by supporting their care however they can.”
“It is such a delight to have the final eggs of Mommy’s first viable clutch hatch,” said Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz. “This success has been a years-long process from bringing Abrazzo to the Zoo in 2020, to fundraising for nesting materials in 2021 and introducing Mommy and Abrazzo in 2022. Our sincerest gratitude for this success goes to the passionate and diligent work by experts in the AZA community and the entire Philadelphia Zoo team, including the countless keepers that kept Mommy healthy and thriving over the last 93 years.”
Four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos Tortoises Hatch At Philadelphia Zoo
The zoo has been working to successfully breed Abrazzo and Mommy since December 2020, when Abrazzo came to the zoo from the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina on a Galapagos Tortoise Species Survival Plan program. New substrate was purchased that enabled Mommy to lay eggs. She first laid eggs in 2023, resulting in four clutches of eggs. The first three resulted in non-viable eggs, the fourth clutch, laid in November 2024 was viable. Mommy laid a total of 16 eggs. They were then separated and incubated according to temperature in hopes of hatching 8 females and 8 males.
As an AZA accredited institution, we take great responsibility participating in the Galapagos Tortoise Species Survival Plan, and are thrilled for this successful pairing of Mommy and Abrazzo,” said Vice President of Animal Well-Being and Conservation Rachel Metz. “At one point, each of the Galapagos Islands had its own unique Galapagos tortoise, but sadly, several of them are now extinct. These hatchlings not only protect the species from extinction, but serve as important ambassadors to inspire guests to save wildlife and wild places.”
Western Santa Cruz Island Galapagos Tortoise Information
The Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise is a subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise and is only found on the southwestern slopes of the Santa Cruz island in the Galapagos island chain. The critically endangered species has a life expectancy of about 175 years and is known for its domed, black, oval carapace. It is estimated that there are 3,400 individuals in the wild on Santa Cruz Island.
