Aged Galapagos Tortoise marks 135th birthday, experiences first Father's Day at Zoo Miami
🔥 Story Time!: Miami's Oldest Resident Celebrates a Milestone Birthday and Welcomes His First Baby!
Quest for the Centenarian: Meet Goliath, the 135-year-old oldest resident at South Florida's Zoo Miami, and the first time father to a brand-new baby Galapagos tortoise! This hurricane-resistant, 517-pound titan joined the zoo family back in 1981 and has been laying low (quite literally) until a special miracle unfolded earlier this year.
Fatherhood at Last: The proceeding events may leave you speechless! Goliath was recently blessed with the honor of fatherhood following a remarkable hatchling's emergence from a single egg out of eight laid on January 27. Keep in mind, this isn't just any baby tortoise; it's the first one of its endangered kind to hatch at Zoo Miami!
A New Era: Zoo Miami's spokesman, Ron Magill, had nothing but praises for the newfound father, Goliath, remarking, "He's living proof that where there's a will, there's a way, and to never give up!" His words ring particularly true when considering the historic challenges Galapagos tortoises have faced over the years.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Goliath and Sweet Pea: The hatchling's impressive parentage is attributed to Goliath, born between 1885 and 1890 on the island of Santa Cruz, Galapagos, and an older-than-estimated mother, Sweet Pea. Sweet Pea's estimated age ranges from 85 to 100 years old, although her exact age is not confirmed.
Sweet Pea's history dates back to when she was an adult arrived at Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne, Florida, in 1960. Surprisingly, the conservation efforts for the species and arrival of invasive species in the Galapagos Islands during the 20th century drastically reduced their numbers. Modern threats continue to include climate change and habitat loss.
Zoo Couples That Are Better Than Yours: Here's some fun trivia- Goliath wasn't always successful in breeding, but he had his fair share of romances with various female tortoises in Zoo Miami. To put things in perspective, Sweet Pea isn't the only female Goliath has gotten cozy with during his time. Both parents are reported to be in good health, with Goliath reclining in his public habitat and the newly hatched baby residing in a separate enclosure.
The Hatchling's Future: Keepers are excited about the arrival of the newest addition to their family, even though wild hatchlings aren't nurtured by their parents. This baby tortoise is a significant milestone in Galapagos tortoise conservation and is a shining testament to the efforts being made to save this incredible species.
Goliath's new role as a father marks an exciting change in his lifestyle, shifting his focus beyond his home-and-garden enclosure to include the care of his newborn pet, a Galapagos tortoise. With the arrival of the hatchling, both Goliath and his companion, Sweet Pea, have become key figures in preserving the endangered species, their unique pairing serving as a symbol of hope for the future of Galapagos tortoises.
