Endangered Tortoise Becomes A Mom For The First Time At 80 Years Old

A typical turtle can live between 10 and 80 years or so. For this reason, at the age of 80, most of turtles are too old and are enjoying the rest of life. However, for a tortoise named Nigrita, it is the age she becomes a mom for the first time and proves that “age is just a number. Not only is it the amazing thing for Nigrita, but it is also the good news for animal lovers around the world as her species is endangered.

Image source: ZOO ZURICH, SAMUEL FURRER

Nigrita is a Galapagos tortoise that lives at the Zoo Zürich in Switzerland. This is the largest tortoise species that is native to the Galapagos Islands. They weight up to 900lb and are also able to live more than 150 years. They are known as one of the longest-living animals on Earth. Unfortunately, the species is endangered with only ten individuals left in the wild due to greedy humans and hungry predators.

Image source: ZOO ZURICH, SAMUEL FURRER

For that reason, Nigrita is currently part of a breeding program at the zoo, which brings back the species from its extinction. Therefore, the news of Nigrita becoming a first-mom is taking the Internet by storm. Giving birth to 9 eggs, Nigrita and her hatchlings little babies are capturing everyone's heart.

Image source: ZOO ZURICH, SAMUEL FURRER

The father is Jumbo, and he is only 54-year-old. In fact, Galapagos tortoise typically don’t give birth until around age 40, so it means that Nigrita is in her prime.

Image source: ZOO ZURICH, SAMUEL FURRER

“Nigrita is our oldest animal at the zoo, but she is probably in her best years to lay eggs,” Robert Zingg at the Zurich Zoo, said. "The newborns weigh around five ounces each, so we have to wait a little, until they’ll grow as big as their mom."

Image source: ZOO ZURICH, SAMUEL FURRER

Image source: ZOO ZURICH, SAMUEL FURRER

Watch the lovely video here:

 h/t: thedodo