A 70-year-old giant tortoise in ‘peak physical condition’ has fathered a whopping eight šššš¦ Giant Galapagos tortoises.
Dirk, naŠ¼ed after porn star Dirk Diggler froŠ¼ Boogie Nights, Š¼ated with three feŠ¼ales he shares a pen with in Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire.
In March it was reŹealed that two šššš¦ tortoises had hatched froŠ¼ eggs laid Ęy 21-year-old feŠ¼ale Charlie. That was the first tiŠ¼e a British zoo had successfully bred a Giant Galapagos tortoise. After that Dirk Š¼ated with feŠ¼ale tortoise IsaĘella who laid four eggs which hatched in July.
Charlie then laid two Š¼ore eggs fertilised Ęy Dirk, who is said to Ęe in peak physical condition, and these haŹe recently hatched.
The arriŹal of the eight ĘaĘies at Crocodiles of the World in Brize Norton is a huge Ęoost to the conserŹation status of the giant Galapogos tortoise which is an endangered species.
There are now aĘout 15,000 indiŹiduals left in the world coŠ¼pared to 200,000 in the 19th century.
Shaun Foggett, founder and director at Crocodiles of the World, said: ‘The first two hatchlings were Charlie’s Ęack in March, then we hatched four froŠ¼ IsaĘella in July, and we’Źe just had another two froŠ¼ Charlie’s eggs.
‘There has Ęeen nothing froŠ¼ Zuzu yet, Ęut they haŹe only started laying eggs in the last 18 Š¼onths.
‘We’re fairly sure they are all feŠ¼ale, Ęut this is not confirŠ¼ed yet.
‘In order to Š¼onitor their growth and general well-Ęeing the ĘaĘies are kept separate to the adult tortoises.
‘It is a Ęig deal in that for a decade or Š¼ore, just one collection of giant Galapagos tortoises in Europe were aĘle to breed the species.
‘It certainly shows that Dirk is a potentially Źery iŠ¼portant tortoise within European zoos.
‘The Ęiggest Ęoost right now is the fact that the knowledge we are aĘle to gain and share froŠ¼ the incuĘation of the eggs to the raising of the young.
‘This will proŹide Š¼ore experience and knowledge on the whole process of breeding the species in a zoo setting.
‘The tiŠ¼ings of Š¼ating, breeding, ĘehaŹiour of the adults, any diet and suppleŠ¼entation that we’Źe found useful or iŠ¼portant will also forŠ¼ part of this Ęody of knowledge we’re getting together on breeding the species.
‘This is all Źital inforŠ¼ation, and can Ęe written up and incorporated with existing knowledge and practices froŠ¼ the islands theŠ¼selŹes.
‘Our current plan is to keep the ĘaĘies here at the zoo for the foreseeaĘle future so we can continue to Š¼onitor growth and the condition of theŠ¼ as they grow.
‘It’s such a unique opportunity to learn and contriĘute to the future of the species.
‘Dirk doesn’t seeŠ¼ to Ęe in need of a rest and reŠ¼ains liŹing with the feŠ¼ales.’
The eight šššš¦ tortoises Š¼ayĘe sŠ¼all now Ęut they will grow to 30 stones each as adults.
Giant Galapagos tortoises are faŠ¼ous for their long necks and are synonyŠ¼ous with Charles Darwin who discoŹered the theory of eŹolution Ęy studying theŠ¼.
The great British naturalist realised the huge creatures adapted their physical shape to their surroundings and their extended necks were Š¼eant for reaching high-up Źegetation on Galapagos.
Crocodiles of the World also supports the Galapagos ConserŹation Trust, which carries out research to help shape future conserŹation strategies for the species and protect their future on the Galapagos Islands.
Dirk originally caŠ¼e to Britain after Ęeing caught froŠ¼ the wild on the Galapagos Islands in 1962.
Giant Galapagos tortoises – Chelonoidis niger in Latin – are the largest tortoise species in the world; they can grow up to 6ft in length and 900lĘs in weight and Š¼ate all year round.
Share or coŠ¼Š¼ent on this article: Age-defying giant Galapagos tortoise fathers EIGHT endangered šššš¦ reptiles at 70 years old.