A Mom at 100 Years Old

Congratulations to Mommy, a first-time mother at 100 years old, and to her mate, Abrazzo, also estimated to be around 100. Mommy is a critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise that has lived at the Philadelphia Zoo since 1932. In November 2024, she laid 16 eggs, with the first hatching on February 27. To date, four have climbed from their shells, with more still possible. This was Mommy’s fourth egg-laying attempt and the first to result in viable offspring.

Prior to the recent hatchlings, there were only 44 Western Santa Cruz Giant tortoises in American zoos. The newly hatched tortoises will be housed at the Philadelphia Zoo for a minimum of five years before any potential relocation to another facility or release into the Galapagos Islands. Scientists estimate that these tortoises may live up to 200 years, with the oldest on record documented to have lived 175 years in captivity.

Seven of the Galapagos Islands are currently home to one or more of 13 native tortoise species. Historically, each of the 21 islands had its own species, with populations numbering in the hundreds of thousands. After being hunted to near extinction, their numbers have since rebounded to approximately 17,000 with the help of conservation and breeding programs, as reported by the London Zoo.