Goliath the Galápagos tortoise celebrated his first Father’s Day and 135th birthday
Goliath the tortoise had a big shellebration Sunday as he marked his first Father’s Day.
He also turned 135 at Zoo Miami.
His hatchling was born on June 4 after incubating for about four months, becoming the first Galápagos tortoise hatchling born at Zoo Miami. Goliath had been matched with several female tortoises to breed, but the process had been unsuccessful until he mated with Sweet Pea, the hatchling’s mother.
But Goliath and Sweet Pea haven’t had much interaction with their baby.
“In the wild, hatchlings are on their own from the moment they emerge from the egg and the parents have no further connection to them,” the zoo said in a statement. “The hatchling appears to be healthy and has been removed from the incubator and placed in a separate enclosure where it is active and full of energy!”
Goliath, who weighs almost 600 pounds, has been at Zoo Miami for 43 years. Before, he lived at the Bronx Zoo for 52 years.
The zoo has submitted applications to Guinness Book of World Records that would make Goliath “The Oldest First-Time Father in History!” and him and Sweet Pea “The Oldest First-Time Parents in History!” the zoo said.
They have some company. In April, four Galápagos tortoise hatchlings were born at the Philadelphia Zoo, making “Mommy” and “Abrazzo” parents for the first time at almost a century old.
More about Galápagos tortoises
Galápagos tortoises are herbivores native to the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador. Female tortoises typically lay up to 20 billiard-ball-sized eggs at a time, according to the Philadelphia Zoo.
The temperature during incubation determines the hatchlings’ sex — eggs incubated at 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit or lower produce female tortoises, while temperatures above 85.1 degrees produce males.
It takes the eggs four to eight months to hatch. Males can eventually weigh 500 pounds on average, while females typically weigh 250 pounds.
In both zoos and the wild, tortoises can live about 100 to 200 years, the Philadelphia Zoo says.
Federal judge acknowledges ‘abusive workplace’ in court order
The order did not identify the judge in question but two sources familiar with the process told NPR it is U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby, a Biden appointee.
Top 5 takeaways from the House immigration oversight hearing
The hearing underscored how deeply divided Republicans and Democrats remain on top-level changes to immigration enforcement in the wake of the shootings of two U.S. citizens.
Snowboarder Chloe Kim is chasing an Olympic gold three-peat with a torn labrum
At 25, Chloe Kim could become the first halfpipe snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic golds.
Pakistan-Afghanistan border closures paralyze trade along a key route
Trucks have been stuck at the closed border since October. Both countries are facing economic losses with no end in sight. The Taliban also banned all Pakistani pharmaceutical imports to Afghanistan.
Malinowski concedes to Mejia in Democratic House special primary in New Jersey
With the race still too close to call, former congressman Tom Malinowski conceded to challenger Analilia Mejia in a Democratic primary to replace the seat vacated by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
A daughter reexamines her own family story in ‘The Mixed Marriage Project’
Dorothy Roberts' parents, a white anthropologist and a Black woman from Jamaica, spent years interviewing interracial couples in Chicago. Her memoir draws from their records.
