Galapagos Tortoise hatchlings turn three

Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Galapagos Tortoise hatchlings, Turbo and Peńa, the most recent Galapagos Tortoise hatchlings born at the Zoo, are turning three years old this week. Their development has been progressing well in these three years so far. Keepers have been using experience from first hatchling born at the Zoo to help guide their routine and progression. Currently the hatchlings weigh in at 620 grams and 513 grams respectively.

They both continue to live up to their names - Peńa (Spanish for rock) prefers a slower lifestyle being more sedentary at times, where Turbo races off on a 'speedy' adventure exploring the surroundings. 

The Galapagos Tortoise hatchlings diet and nutrition includes a variety of lettuce, mulberry leaves, celery leaf, basil, mint, Chinese elm, coprosma, hibiscus flowers - just in smaller quantities compared to our adults. Today’s birthday celebration is a special treat for them, of a watermelon cake with berries and hibiscus.

Turbo and Peńa are very inquisitive of older hatchling ‘NJ’ and keepers will be planning to house all three hatchlings together in the near future when the younger two have developed and grow to a big enough size, before residing with the adult group.