Galapagos tortoise turns 135 and celebrates first Father’s Day at zoo Miami
Goliath, a 234-kg Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, recently became a father for the first time, zoo officials announced.
The oldest animal at a South Florida zoo marked a major milestone on Sunday, celebrating both his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day.
Goliath, a 517-pound (234-kg) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, recently became a father for the first time, zoo officials announced.
"Goliath is my hero, and I believe he'll soon inspire many others!" said Zoo Miami spokesperson Ron Magill in a statement. "He shows us that with determination, anything is possible—never give up!"
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Out of eight eggs laid on January 27, one successfully hatched on June 4. This marks not only Goliath's first baby, but also the first Galapagos tortoise ever hatched at Zoo Miami. These tortoises, once devastated by human impact and invasive species in the Galapagos Islands, still face modern threats such as climate change and habitat destruction.
Records show Goliath hatched on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos sometime between 1885 and 1890. The island chain lies near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of mainland Ecuador.
Goliath was brought to the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and relocated to Zoo Miami in 1981. Although he has previously mated with several females, he had never fathered a baby until now. The mother of the hatchling, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old.
Zoo staff report that both tortoise parents are doing well in their exhibit, while the hatchling is healthy and being kept in a separate area. In the wild, hatchlings are not cared for by their parents.
