As one of oldest living reptile species on earth, Galápagos tortoises are critically endangered as well as wildly popular with our San Diego Zoo visitors. With life spans that can reach 150 years, most of the tortoises in our 17-member herd arrived here in 1928—and some are more than 100 years old! These charismatic “island giants” have been in the spotlight longer than any other animal at the Zoo, and now our oldest residents desperately need a new home.
The new habitat, which will be created at the tortoises’ current exhibit site on Reptile Mesa, will provide the necessary breeding ground to help preserve Galápagos tortoises. It will also help engage and educate visitors from around the world about the tortoises’ fragile state in their native homeland and the importance of keeping their survival a priority.
The new Galápagos tortoise home will feature:
- A state-of-the-art barn with heated floors and sandy nesting area, both critical for our precious tortoises to thrive and reproduce.
- Mud wallows and elevated terraces planted with cactus and succulents, which will be more enriching and stimulating for the tortoises.
- A tortoise contact area where visitors (under the supervision of a keeper) can reach in and pet the tortoises, scratch their necks, and perhaps even feed them special treats to help foster a one-of-a-kind experience with these unique and affectionate animals.
The new Galápagos tortoise habitat will cost $1 million! Thanks to a very special contribution—The Tom and Jane Fetter Challenge—your gift will be worth THREE times as much. Our Galápagos tortoises at the San Diego Zoo are timeless treasures of our past and present—please help us provide them with a new home and a bright future!
