Successful Hatching Of World’s Largest Chelonian A Noteworthy Australasian Accomplishment
Aukland Zoo certainly has cause for celebration this year. They are only the second Australasian zoo to successfully reproduce Chelonoidis nigra, after years of failed attempts to breed their pair of mature specimens. Curator of ectotherms and birds Richard Gibson attributes part of this success to the introduction of a second male, which may have provided the other male with the competition necessary to stimulate breeding behavior. They waited 35 years for these tortoises to reproduce, so the tiny 60 gram hatchling is an incredibly exciting accomplishment for the Aukland Zoo and staff. They hope that they can continue to hatch more of these impressive animals and contribute to the recovery of the species as a whole.
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Photo from Aukland Zoo.
