Latest news with #GalapagosTortoise
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
135-year-old tortoise becomes a father for the first time
A tortoise at a Miami zoo marked a double milestone on Sunday (15 June) - turning 135 years old and celebrating his first Father's Day. Goliath, a 234-kilogram Galapagos tortoise who is also Zoo Miami's oldest resident, became a dad for the first time on 4 June. Footage shared by Zoo Miami shows the hatchling emerging from its nest and taking its first steps after 128 days of incubation. Goliath hatched on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos sometime between 1885 and 1890, whilst the mother, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. Zoo officials have submitted an application to Guinness World Records to recognise Goliath as the world's "Oldest First-Time Father' and Goliath and Sweat Pea as the world's "Oldest First-Time Parents."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Giant tortoise Goliath becomes a father at 135!
A Galapagos tortoise named Goliath celebrated his 135th birthday on Father's reaching an impressive age isn't the only special event that's happened in his life recently. Up until this year, the giant tortoise, which lives at Zoo Miami in Florida and weighs more than 230 kilograms, had never had any offspring of his own. That all changed when one egg out of a group of eight hatched on 4 June, making him a father for the very first time. It means his latest birthday also turned out to be his very first Father's Day. The new baby tortoise is also a big deal as it's the first time in the history of Zoo Miami that a Galapagos tortoise has species of giant tortoise are currently under threat and some have already gone extinct. Goliath first came to the US in 1929, and was eventually brought to Zoo Miami in 1981. Despite breeding with several females during his time at the zoo, Goliath had never successfully produced any offspring. The new tortoise's mother, called Sweet Pea, is thought to be between 85 and 100 years old. Both Goliath and Sweet Pea are said to be doing well and the hatchling is being looked after in a separate enclosure. "Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!" Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement."He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!"
The Independent
7 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Giant tortoise celebrates his 135th birthday - and first Father's Day
A giant Galapagos tortoise has turned 135 – and he's also just become a father for the first time, says Miami Zoo officials. Despite multiple breeding attempts throughout his lifetime, Goliath never successfully fathered any offspring. This all changed with a recent unexpected surprise. After 128 days of incubation, one egg out of a clutch of eight that was laid on January 27 successfully hatched on June 4. 'The hatchling appears to be healthy and has been removed from the incubator and placed in a separate enclosure where it is active and full of energy,' the zoo said. 'Goliath' hatched on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15, 1890, and later moved to the Bronx Zoo in July 1929. Ultimately, he settled at the Miami Zoo in July 1981. Miami zoo officials are anticipating a possible world record and applied to the Guinness Book of World Records to get Goliath the recognition he deserves as 'The oldest first-time father in history!' 'Not only is this the first offspring for Goliath, but it is also the first time in the history of Zoo Miami that a Galapagos tortoise has hatched, making this a historic event on multiple levels!' Miami Zoo said Friday. Galapagos Tortoises can live for over 100 years in captivity, as research has found that they possess multiple gene variants linked to DNA repair, immune response, and cancer suppression. The mother of the tortoise hatchling is also pushing record numbers, with an age between 85 and 100 years old. 'Sweet Pea' arrived at the Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne, Florida, as an adult in 1960. The reptile pair share a combined age of over 200 and may qualify as 'The oldest first-time parents in history,' the zoo said. 'Both Goliath and Sweet Pea are doing well in their public habitat and are not aware of their newly hatched offspring,' the statement added. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a Seychelles giant tortoise is the oldest living tortoise, at 191 years of age. The tortoise, named Jonathan, lives on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena.
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-06-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Galapagos Tortoise Celebrates His 135th Birthday and His First Father's Day at Zoo Miami
A South Florida zoo's oldest resident celebrated his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day on Sunday. Goliath, a 517-pound (234-kilogram) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, became a father for the first time earlier this month, zoo officials said. 'Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!' Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. 'He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!' One egg out of a clutch of eight laid on Jan. 27 successfully hatched on June 4, officials said. Besides being Goliath's first offspring, it's also the first time one of the endangered reptiles has hatched at Zoo Miami. The animals' numbers were drastically reduced before the 20th century by human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands. Modern threats include climate change and habitat loss. According to Goliath's official record, he hatched on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15, between 1885 and 1890. The island group is located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred miles west of mainland Ecuador. Goliath arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and moved to Zoo Miami in 1981. He has bred with several different females during his time at Zoo Miami, but he has never sired an offspring. The new hatchling's mother, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. Both parents are doing well in their public habitat, officials said. The hatchling appears to be healthy in a separate enclosure. Wild hatchlings are not raised by their parents.
BreakingNews.ie
15-06-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Galapagos tortoise celebrates 135th birthday and first Father's Day at US zoo
The oldest resident at a zoo in the US has celebrated his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day. Goliath, a 517lb (234kg) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami in Florida, became a father for the first time earlier this month, zoo officials said. Advertisement 'Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!' Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. 'He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!' One egg out of a clutch of eight laid on January 27 successfully hatched on June 4, officials said. Besides being Goliath's first offspring, it is also the first time one of the endangered reptiles has hatched at Zoo Miami. Advertisement The animals' numbers were drastically reduced before the 20th century by human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands. Modern threats include climate change and habitat loss. According to Goliath's official record, he hatched on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15 between 1885 and 1890. The island group is located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred miles west of mainland Ecuador. Advertisement Goliath arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and moved to Zoo Miami in 1981. He has bred with several different females during his time at Zoo Miami, but he has never sired an offspring. The new hatchling's mother, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. Both parents are doing well in their public habitat, officials said. Advertisement The hatchling appears to be healthy in a separate enclosure. Wild hatchlings are not raised by their parents.
