Plzeň Zoo hopes for global sensation as its giant tortoise lays eggs
The Plzeň Zoo has revealed that one of its rare Aldabra giant tortoises laid 31 eggs earlier this month. If the eggs hatch, it would be a global sensation, as this species has successfully bred in captivity in Europe only once before. However, breeders remain cautious, as it takes about 120 days for the eggs to hatch.
The Aldabra giant tortoise, one of the largest and longest-living animals in the world, is endemic to the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles. It is one of the few remaining specimen of giant tortoises that once thrived on the islands, before poaching and habitat destruction drove them to near extinction.
Breeding Aldabra tortoises in captivity is extremely challenging. The Plzeň Zoo could soon become only the second zoo in Europe to successfully hatch these vulnerable creatures. On October 17, one of its three female tortoises, named Habibi, laid 31 eggs. Breeder Josipa Šuplika shares the details:
“She was behaving a little bit differently for about a week, exploring and sniffing around the enclosure, so we were expecting something to happen, but we didn’t anticipate so many eggs. Usually, there are only between nine and 25 eggs in one clutch.”
At just 24 years old, Habibi is still a teenager in human terms, as this species can live around 200 years. This marks her third clutch of eggs, but unlike the previous two instances, she laid them all at once and meticulously buried them, according to Ms. Šuplika:
“The whole process of egg-laying took around 2.5 hours. She spent about an hour digging the hole, deposited the eggs, and then spent another hour covering them up with soil and urine. She spent the rest of the night stomping the ground beneath her, turning it into concrete.”
After laying the eggs, breeders moved them to an incubator to create optimal hatching conditions. Ms. Šuplika explained:
“We are testing three different methods of incubation, focusing on humidity and temperature, as it’s unclear how to perfectly incubate this species. There are many farms breeding them in Mauritius and the Seychelles, where they do it naturally in the ground. However, since we are not in the tropical climate of Aldabra, we must do it artificially.”
If all goes well and the eggs are fertilized, the hatchlings should emerge in about 120 days. Even if this attempt doesn’t succeed, breeders view it as evidence that the Aldabra tortoises are thriving in Plzeň.
The tortoises can weigh up to 250 kilograms and primarily feed on grass, leaves, and fruit, occasionally indulging in small invertebrates. Creating a suitable environment for them in a Central European zoo is no easy task, as Ms. Šuplika noted:
“Since they come from the Aldabra atoll, which is surrounded by the ocean, it’s crucial that they have 100 percent humidity. The surface needs to be at least 27 degrees, and the air temperature should be around 30 degrees. We can only let them outside in July and August when conditions are good enough to prevent them from getting cold.”
The Plzeň zoo acquired the group of young Aldabra tortoises in 2004. Today, these impressive creatures can be seen in the zoo's Tropical Pavilion, where visitors can inspect them up close.
