MIAMI (AP) — 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 a true inspiration to me, and I am confident he will soon inspire many more!” stated Zoo Miami spokesperson Ron Magill. “He exemplifies the idea that determination paves the way forward and that one should never give up!”
Officials reported that out of a clutch of eight eggs laid on January 27, one egg successfully hatched on June 4. This marks not only Goliath’s first offspring but also the first time one of these endangered reptiles has hatched at Zoo Miami. The population of these animals significantly decreased before the 20th century due to human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands. Today, they face threats from climate change and habitat destruction.
Goliath’s records indicate he hatched on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos on June 15, sometime between 1885 and 1890. This island group, situated near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, lies several hundred miles to the 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.
