Sixteen rare turtles born to centenarian parents have been unveiled to the public at an event at a US zoo where the new inhabitants were shown off.
The fragile reptiles were born this year as the result of several clutches from a pair named Mama and Abrazzo, who are approaching 100 years old, at the Philadelphia Zoo.
The mother settled here in 1932, but the offspring were not born until Abrazzo arrived almost five years ago from the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina.
“This creature, who has lived in Philadelphia since 1932, will be with us, we believe, for another century, as her babies now join our collection,” said Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology.
Four females that emerged in early spring were named after the characters from the TV series “Golden Girls.”
In April, three males hatched from the eggs, then Mama created a second clutch, which resulted in the birth of three females in June and six males in the summer.
According to the staff, the young turtles are actively feeding and developing.
Mom and Abrazzo are the oldest residents of the Philadelphia Zoo, whose genetic material is considered critical to the conservation of the species.
The birth of their offspring is being hailed as a milestone in the Santa Cruz tortoise conservation program.
The cubs are expected to remain here for at least a year before being transferred to new habitats in the fall of 2026.
Western Santa Cruz tortoises are one of 13 extant species that inhabit seven islands of the Galapagos archipelago off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean.
It is believed that the largest representatives of these reptiles can live up to two centuries.
The zoo has announced the possibility of suggesting a name for one of the males, subject to approval by the administration.
The remaining cubs were named: Zee, James, Colette, Soledad, Isabel, Roger, Fausto, Caldero, Lee, Marigold Puddlefoot and Kelpie.
To differentiate between individuals, staff use multi-colored, safe varnishes for shells.
The Philadelphia Zoo is also home to giant Aldabra tortoises Wilma and Betty.
Earlier in June, a 135-year-old Galapagos male named Goliath at Zoo Miami gave birth to his first offspring.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
