A baby Galápagos giant tortoise was born with whitish skin and red eyes at a Swiss zoo, the first time an albino tortoise of this species has been observed in captivity or in the wild, according to its owner.
“It’s a blessing from heaven”, celebrated Philippe Morel, owner of the Tropiquarium de Servion, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Lausanne (western Switzerland), whose visitors were able to observe the albino tortoise for the first time this Friday (3).
With just one month to live, the turtle weighs about fifty grams and fits in the palm of your hand.
The Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonodis nigra), a species considered vulnerable, have a life expectancy of up to two hundred years.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that there are about 23,000 individuals in this archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.
The zoo owner estimates that an albino tortoise’s life in the wild lasts only a few weeks, as its white fur can attract predators.
But he hopes the newborn, in her playpen, will grow normally.
“It’s amazing to see her climb,” commented the owner of the Tropiquarium. “She’s even more active than the other one,” commented her son, Thomas (who also works at the park), pointing to another baby.
This event is exceptional not only for the color of the tortoise, but also for its size, which can weigh 200 kilograms as an adult, making the reproduction of individuals very complicated, with only 2% success in breeding.
In addition, there have only been captive births in three zoos in the world.
