Electus Parrot
Well-Known Member
According to isis a galapagos giant tortoise has hatched at the zoo. Hopefully there will be more to come in the future.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Galapagos Giant Tortoise Birth
- Thread starter Electus Parrot
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Electus Parrot
Well-Known Member
Currently I am unsure as it is from isis, but it may be, especially if it is a first time for the female just one egg could have been fertile
It's magical, to me, the thought that this hatchling could well still be in am Aussie zoo happily munching away on veggies in 150 years. Giant tortoises are like oak trees, they connect different generations and eras of history like no other animal can.
FriendOfTheZoo
Well-Known Member
This is the exact same feeling I had when I read the OP.
Perhaps I may not have, if I hadn't had the chance to work with Harriet though.
These have bred before in the early seventies (arounds).
It would be good to know the sp. or ssp. to which the current Taronga stock are assigned to.
It would be good to know the sp. or ssp. to which the current Taronga stock are assigned to.
Taronga has Aldabrans, not Galapagos tortoises
I am aware of that. The Galapagos used to be at Taronga then. The original stock is - as far as I am aware - all of Honolulu breeding animals. Purportedly, their origins were in just the one (sub-)species.
On them Aldabrans and historical breedings: there has been a good article on the programme at Taronga in one of the older IZY volumes.
As far as egg-laying et al is concerned; where there is one egg hatching, there is bound to have been more. The fact that the egg had been fertile ..., is the major move forward.
G'day K.B.
I believe that all Galapagos Tortoises in this country are now being managed at species level.
Any Galapagos that used to be held at Taronga Sydney have all been consolidated at Taronga Western Plains. Some genius thought that it would be beneficial to brand the Dubbo property with the Sydney name as well.
As a side-note - the breeding of the Western Plains Galapagos has long been an ambition of the partner of the late Nathan Jamieson. In this awful year for her I hope that she is drawing some comfort from this success.
I believe that all Galapagos Tortoises in this country are now being managed at species level.
Any Galapagos that used to be held at Taronga Sydney have all been consolidated at Taronga Western Plains. Some genius thought that it would be beneficial to brand the Dubbo property with the Sydney name as well.
As a side-note - the breeding of the Western Plains Galapagos has long been an ambition of the partner of the late Nathan Jamieson. In this awful year for her I hope that she is drawing some comfort from this success.
It seems that all the Galapagos tortoise subspecies are now elevated to individual species, so they might need to rethink that idea if they are a mixed bag.
Electus Parrot
Well-Known Member
From what I know Adelaide is not breeding theirs as they are brother and sister, and this may be the same for other ones around Australia, possibly Taronga?