Patches, Zoo Atlanta's Aldabra Giant Tortoise Dies

ATLANTA, GA — Zoo Atlanta is remembering the life of its giant tortoise, Patches.

The Aldabra giant tortoise had been ill for several days as evidenced by a change to her behavior and physical condition. Also, zoo officials said the veterinary staff was treating her for lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite and fluid buildup.

Medical professionals taking a CT scan found a large mass in her body, among other health concerns, and made the difficult decision to euthanize the tortoise on Saturday, officials said.

“We are very saddened by the loss of Patches,” said Jennifer Mickelberg, PhD, vice president of collections and conservation. “She was a wonderful link for so many people to the fascination of reptiles and to the key role that tortoises play in their ecosystems wherever they are found.

“It is not difficult to make connections with an animal such as a gorilla or a giant panda or a giraffe. Some people find it more challenging to connect with reptiles, which makes Patches’ legacy all the more extraordinary. She had a personality on par with her size, and she will be dearly missed,” Mickelberg said.

Patches was at Zoo Atlanta for 28 years after arriving in 1994 from another zoo, officials said. Although her exact age is not known, it is believed that she was between 70 and 80 years old.

Aldabra tortoises are classified as vulnerable and are only found on the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean off the coast of eastern Africa. Patches was the largest reptile at the zoo.

The only species of giant tortoise larger than the Aldabra is the Galapagos tortoise, whose males can grow to be as large as 300 pounds and females often weighing in at around 200 pounds.

Zoo officials said a necropsy — the animal version of an autopsy — will be performed through the zoo’s partnership with the University of Georgia Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

See also:

• World's 4th Oldest Gorilla Dies, Zoo Atlanta Confirms
• Zoo Atlanta's Oldest Giraffe Abu Dies After Bout With Arthritis