The average lifespan of a tortoise is between 10 and 80 years, which means many spend their later years in peace, too old to be active. But Nigrita is a rare exception. At the age of 80, she became a mother for the first time, proving that age doesn’t always matter. This news spread worldwide and brought joy, especially since Nigrita is part of an endangered species.
Nigrita, a Galapagos tortoise, has lived in the Zürich Zoo, Switzerland, since 1928. Galapagos tortoises are the largest of their kind, weighing up to 900 pounds and can live for over 150 years. Sadly, they are an endangered species, with fewer than 10 remaining in the wild, mainly due to predators and human activities like poaching.
Nigrita is part of a zoo breeding program aimed at preserving this species. So, when she gave birth to nine babies, it was a huge victory for conservation efforts and captured the hearts of many.
The father, Jumbo, is 54 years old, and most Galapagos tortoises don’t become parents until they are over 40, so Nigrita was right on time.
Robert Zingg, a zoo spokesperson, shared that Nigrita is the oldest animal at the zoo and noted that she laid eggs at a healthy age. Each of her babies weighs about five ounces, and the zoo staff is patiently waiting for them to grow and eventually join their mother.