Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 16 hours ago
We’re excited to share that Auckland Zoo is now home to a fifth Galápagos tortoise hatchling!|
Emerging from its shell in early November, this welcome newcomer follows the historic hatching of four Galápagos tortoises in late January to parents Chippie and Smiley. Weighing just 80.1grams this hatchling was one of three undamaged eggs salvaged from a clutch laid by Chippie on 12 July – and the only fertile one.
“Throughout its incubation we tracked this one super closely and could see it developing in the egg…however, we weren’t holding our breath that we would achieve another success and didn’t want to count our Galápagos tortoises before they hatched!” says ectotherm keeper Sonja.
In time, this hatchling will join its siblings in the raised island (crèche) home within our indoor tortoise habitat - where our visitors can get a great view of them. Visit aucklandzoo.co.nz/news to read more!
We’re excited to share that Auckland Zoo is now home to a fifth Galápagos tortoise hatchling!|
Emerging from its shell in early November, this welcome newcomer follows the historic hatching of four Galápagos tortoises in late January to parents Chippie and Smiley. Weighing just 80.1grams this hatchling was one of three undamaged eggs salvaged from a clutch laid by Chippie on 12 July – and the only fertile one.
“Throughout its incubation we tracked this one super closely and could see it developing in the egg…however, we weren’t holding our breath that we would achieve another success and didn’t want to count our Galápagos tortoises before they hatched!” says ectotherm keeper Sonja.
In time, this hatchling will join its siblings in the raised island (crèche) home within our indoor tortoise habitat - where our visitors can get a great view of them. Visit aucklandzoo.co.nz/news to read more!
