First Birth in 90 Years Since Arrival at the Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo in the United States has unveiled baby Galapagos tortoises born to a 100-year-old, critically endangered Galapagos tortoise.
According to the Associated Press on April 24 (local time), the mother Galapagos tortoise gave birth for the first time more than 90 years after arriving at the zoo. She has now become the oldest mother among the western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises.
The zoo stated, "We are very pleased that, for the first time in our more than 150-year history, four baby tortoises have been born." Joel Mogerman, the mayor of Philadelphia, also expressed his joy, saying, "The birth of these baby tortoises will be an important milestone in the zoo's history."
Meanwhile, the Galapagos tortoise is a species belonging to the tortoise family and the genus Chelonoidis. The average weight of males ranges from 272 to 317 kilograms, while females average between 136 and 181 kilograms. At one time, various media outlets reported that the species was extinct, but as many subspecies have been rediscovered or restored, they are now protected as a CITES Appendix I species, which is the highest level of international protection for endangered animals.
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