Century-Old Tortoise's 16 Babies Save Critically Endangered Species

[{"selector":"#anim-c8958408-9a28-40ff-8c30-1806cc59028e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a7b0523-93fc-411b-aac4-178e9df4cada","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a340a969-0e05-47c0-ad9e-3ce847a18250","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c174384-c7d9-4e4b-aa8c-31f09a86cae2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise named Mommy just hatched 9 more babies at Philadelphia Zoo, bringing her total to 16 hatchlings in 2025! Karmactive Staff

These Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are critically endangered, with the latest births increasing their managed population by an impressive 36%.

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How does a tortoise become a first-time mom at 100? Mommy arrived at the zoo in 1932 and met her mate Abrazzo when he arrived from South Carolina in 2020.

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The animal care team spent years carefully planning this success, with five total clutches laid since 2023 before achieving viable eggs in November 2024.

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Did you know tortoise gender is determined by temperature? Eggs below 82.4°F become males, while those above 85.1°F produce females.

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The newest clutch includes six males and three females, joining seven siblings hatched earlier this year - all carefully monitored in the Reptile & Amphibian House

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With only 44 Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises previously in U.S. zoos, these 16 babies represent a crucial boost for a species facing threats from invasive species and habitat loss.

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"Our animal care team has done what was considered nearly impossible twice in less than a year," said Lauren Augustine, the zoo's director of herpetology.

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The babies are already receiving names - some honor conservation heroes like Fausto Llerena, who cared for the famous Lonesome George for 40 years.

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Want to name one yourself? The zoo's fundraising campaign gives donors a chance to name one of the male hatchlings for every $25 donation.

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These babies could live 100-200 years! Males may grow to 500 pounds, while females typically reach about 250 pounds.

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The hatchlings will stay at Philadelphia Zoo for at least a year before possible transfers to other facilities in the AZA Species Survival Plan program in fall 2026.

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