Recent content by tortgiant

Appreciate all your comments with hopefully more to follow. I am amazed to learn that the maturity in giant tortoises is not as clear cut as has invariably been taught. It is how research and science can advance our critical knowledge of these endangered tortoise species, their position and...

Thanks for sharing your expert knowledge and wide experience with the Galapagos tortoises in your wonderful Floridean facility. If ever there are opportunities for breeding sound from Galapagos tortoises of known origins your facility is base. It would be nice if some of the Townsend tortoises...

Sexual maturity for male and females in wild Galapagos tortoises is reached at between 20 to 25 years of age. Would captive and husbandry conditions change the age at first succesful reproduction for male and female tortoises?

If he is proven it would be important to get him into a breeding situation with Cerro Azul tortoise Chelonoidis vicina. Chances they will let him go on breeding loan?

I would think that the admin Galapagos Tortoise Alliance will get back to us with a new post.

I know probably a private message is in order?

What I have gathered that recently amongst others some Chelonoidis porteri and Chelonoidis microphyes have been shared more widely with the private breeder community through transfers and loans. I am not sure if that is a change of policy from before within AZA or how individual zoos from...

An exciting project. When do you expect to have the first definite results that would qualify papers to be published on your research?

The older male Chelonoidis vicina is still present, but the second captive-bred male from San Diego Zoo seems to no longer be there. Previously Lowry Park also kept a female Chelonoidis porteri hatched at San Diego Zoo. She was transferred not long age to Miami Metro on B/L.

I agree there is a fine line between keeping safe and conservation education to saving the species. Looking forward to another update woon. With few purebred bloodlines of the various species about it is important to try and create as many breeding colonies of correct species into their correct...

How old is he / she? There are actually few Chelonoidis vicina left ex situ in US. Phoenix Zoo just had their first breeding success with them since a long time. So, it is important that the few representatives of the species C. vicina are assembled in assurance colonies for breeding.