Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at Linton Zoo

Updated
Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at UK zoo
Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at UK zoo

Rex

A giant tortoise at Linton Zoo in Cambridgeshire has given birth to a whopping 45 babies.
Thirty-year-old mum, Kali, an African Spurred or Sulcata Giant Tortoise who weighs 9st 6lbs, gave birth in two clutches during March and April of this year.

The babies are now around three to four inches long, and all came today for a family photo, which, as you can imagine, proved rather difficult.

Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at UK zoo
Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at UK zoo

Rex


Zoo spokeswomen Dawny Greenwood told the Daily Mail: "Getting these newly hatched all looking the same way proved to be an impossible task.

"Babies are not normally kept loose in the paddock with the adults, but enjoy the comfort and safety of nice warm vivariums with UV and Infra-red lamps, but we wanted to try to get a nice family portrait."

And there's also a bit of head-scratching about who the lucky father is.

Dawny added: "We are not sure of the dad as we have four males - Louis is pictured as it is a case of 'who's the daddy then?'"

Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at UK zoo
Giant tortoise gives birth to 45 babies at UK zoo

Rex


According to the Cambridge News, Sulcatas are the largest mainland species of tortoise in the world, weighing up to 95kg and growing up to 90cm long. They are second only to the Galapagos and Aldabra species as the largest in the world.

The babies won't all be able to stay together, and other zoos across Europe are preparing new homes for the youngsters, while a few will stay at Linton.

For more information about visiting, see lintonzoo.com


Sign up to our weekly newsletter
Follow us on TwitterBecome a fan on Facebook

Advertisement