A rare albino Galapagos giant tortoise was born on Friday at a zoo in Switzerland. The turtle is critically endangered and is therefore part of a special program to conserve the species. News agency reports that Reuters.
Door: NU.nl/ReutersThe albino tortoise is one of two young that were born. The other is black, just like his parents. Their gender has yet to be determined.
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“This is the first time in the world that an albino Galapagos giant tortoise has been born in captivity. Albino individuals have never been seen in the wild,” the Tropiquarium zoo said in a statement.
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The mother, who weighs more than 100 kilograms, laid five eggs on February 11. The albino egg hatched on May 1. The baby turtles weigh about 50 grams at birth and fit in the palm of your hand. The father weighs about 180 kilos.
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The success rate of mating for this species is only 2 to 3 percent. Partly because of this, the turtles are a vulnerable species.
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