9 Endangered Galapagos Tortoises Hatched At Philadelphia Zoo

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Zoo has new members of its family, as nine more critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises hatched recently.

They are the second clutch of this species to ever hatch in Philadelphia Zoo’s more-than-150-year history, and the hatchlings’ parents, Mommy and Abrazzo, are the zoo’s oldest residents, estimated to be nearly 100 years old.

The six males and three females are eating and growing appropriately, and join seven others that hatched earlier this year.

They also made Mommy the oldest first-time mom of her species, now with a total of 16 babies.

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The hatchlings are spending time inside their habitat in the Reptile & Amphibian House, in their outdoor habitat near the building, and behind-the-scenes.

The babies are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan breeding program to ensure the survival of this species and maintain a genetically diverse population.

Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with threats including human-wildlife conflict, the introduction of invasive species, and habitat loss.

Including the hatchlings, there are now 60 total Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises in the managed Association of Zoos and Aquariums population.

“The story of Mommy, Abrazzo and their now 16 babies, has captured the imaginations of people around the world," President & CEO Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman said. "It’s made us all think about what legacy means when it comes to conservation and protecting what is precious. It’s Philadelphia Zoo’s mission to make sure these hatchlings are living on a healthy planet 100+ years from now, when they might be having offspring of their own."

"In less than a year, our animal care team has done what was considered nearly impossible twice,” Director of Herpetology Lauren Augustine said. "We are so grateful for the hard work and dedication they’ve taken in every step of this process: from Abrazzo’s arrival in 2020, introducing him to Mommy in 2022, to digging up and incubating two viable clutches of eggs and now caring for 16 hatchlings. We are also thankful to our AZA community that has provided expert guidance through every step. This success is also not possible without the collaboration of the entire Zoo, including our veterinary, facilities, conservation education and fundraising teams."

In October 2020, Abrazzo came to the zoo on an Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in South Carolina.

On Giving ZOO Day 2021, the zoo community made donations to purchase new substrate, a nesting material similar to sand and soil, that Mommy would be able to lay her eggs in.

In 2022, the animal care team worked jointly with the Zoo’s conservation education team to study the giant tortoises and create an ethogram of Abrazzo’s behaviors to see how he spent his time.

Since 2023, Mommy has laid a total of five clutches. Three prior clutches did not result in viable eggs.

In November 2024, Mommy laid her first viable clutch.

Seven more of the tortoises have been named by the animal care staff who care for them directly.

Names include:

• Colette, female — named for Colette Adams, a living legend in the herpetological world who served as a valuable resource through the breeding and incubating process at the Zoo. She’s a leader in the Galapagos tortoise SSP and the Deputy Director of Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas.
• Soledad, female — the name translates to “solitude” or “lonesomeness” in English, and serves as a nod to Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island Galapagos tortoise that passed away in 2012, ending the species. It’s also a nod to The Solitude Mansion on the Zoo’s campus.
• Isabelle, female — named for Isabelle Hunt Conant, who served as the Zoo’s dedicated photographer in the 1930s and 1940s. She illustrated and took photographs for her husband Roger’s publications, including “A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians,” published in 1958.
• Roger, male — named for Roger Conant, who was the Herpetology Curator three years after Mommy’s arrival at the Zoo starting in 1935. He was a prominent herpetologist and went on to become the Director of the Zoo in 1962 through 1973. He designed the Reptile & Amphibian House, which opened in 1972. His wife was Isabelle Hunt Conant.
• Fausto, male — named for Fausto Llerena, who was a park ranger at Galapagos National Park and Lonesome George’s caretaker for 40 years.
• Caldero, male — Calderas are large, circular craters that form after a magma cavity is emptied in an eruption. This name is a nod to the ancient calderas on the Santa Cruz island, where Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are native.
• Lee, male — named after an animal care specialist’s grandfather, who shared his love of animals with generations of his family and taught them the importance of conservation.

Philadelphia Zoo staff also held a drawing for another member of the team to name a male hatchling, choosing the name James after her son; another animal at the zoo, Abby the giraffe, is named for her daughter. Two male hatchlings remain unnamed.

The animal care team is using different colors of nontoxic nail polish to place small spots on different parts of the hatchlings’ shells to differentiate them. The tortoises will be sharing time inside their habitat in the Reptile & Amphibian House, in their outdoor habitat near the building, and behind-the-scenes.

The hatchlings will remain at the zoo for at least one year. The zoo will work with the AZA SSP to determine when some of the hatchlings will move to different facilities in the fall of 2026.

Guests can also meet Mommy and Abrazzo during a Behind-the-Scenes experience at the zoo. Tours are offered Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.