Turtles can live for a long, long time. Anyone who’s seen Finding Nemo can tell you that, and they probably don’t need to. It’s more than likely that you’re well aware of this fact. What you might not know, though, is that turtles can DO a whole lot, even when they’re very old. Meet Nigrita.
She’s an eighty year old Galapagos tortoise, and she lives in the Zoo Zürich in Switzerland. But you’ll never believe this: She’s also a new mother. Galapagos tortoises, amazingly, have children very frequently even when they’re this old.
That’s good news because the Galapagos tortoise is currently on the endangered species list. Because of that Nigrita is part of a breeding program at her zoo that will hopefully raise the number of tortoises in the world.
She’s an eighty year old Galapagos tortoise, and she lives in the Zoo Zürich in Switzerland. But you’ll never believe this: She’s also a new mother. Galapagos tortoises, amazingly, have children very frequently even when they’re this old.
Image Credit: Zoo Zürich, Samuel Furrer
That’s because, as you probably know, they can live well beyond a hundred years. What is a little crazy, though, is that all nine of Nigrita’s babies are completely healthy and doing well!
That’s because, as you probably know, they can live well beyond a hundred years. What is a little crazy, though, is that all nine of Nigrita’s babies are completely healthy and doing well!
That’s good news because the Galapagos tortoise is currently on the endangered species list. Because of that Nigrita is part of a breeding program at her zoo that will hopefully raise the number of tortoises in the world.
Image Credit: Zoo Zürich, Samuel Furrer
The Galapagos islands have lost most of their tortoises because of humans who use the creatures for meat when traveling between the islands and the main land.
The Galapagos islands have lost most of their tortoises because of humans who use the creatures for meat when traveling between the islands and the main land.
Image Credit: Zoo Zürich, Samuel Furrer
That makes it pretty reasonable that humans would be so involved in reviving the species. Zoo Zürich is making a huge step forward with their breeding program, but they obviously couldn’t do it alone.
That makes it pretty reasonable that humans would be so involved in reviving the species. Zoo Zürich is making a huge step forward with their breeding program, but they obviously couldn’t do it alone.
Image Credit: Zoo Zürich, Samuel Furrer
They need the help of amazing creatures like Nigrita to save the Galapagos tortoise from complete extinction! Luckily, it seems now that things are really starting to look up for the species.
They need the help of amazing creatures like Nigrita to save the Galapagos tortoise from complete extinction! Luckily, it seems now that things are really starting to look up for the species.