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 a true inspiration for me, and I believe he will soon become a hero to many others as well!” said Ron Magill, spokesperson for Zoo Miami, in a statement. “His story shows that determination can lead to success, and one should never give up!”

Officials reported that out of a set of eight eggs laid on January 27, one successfully hatched on June 4. This marks not only Goliath’s first offspring but also the first time an endangered reptile of this kind has hatched at Zoo Miami. These animals faced severe population declines due to human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands before the 20th century. Today’s threats include climate change and loss of habitat.

Goliath was documented as having hatched on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos around June 15, between the years of 1885 and 1890. The Galapagos Islands are situated in the Pacific Ocean near the equator, several hundred miles west of Ecuador’s mainland.

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.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.