By Andrea Kuruc
Correspondent
Good News Lions is the Nation & World section’s bi-weekly news segment, highlighting positive news in the country and around the world. The theme of this article is animals’ vital contributions.
Philadelphia Zoo’s Galapagos tortoise hatches four newborns
The Philadelphia Zoo has announced the hatching of four Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises earlier this week. It marks the first breeding of the species in the zoo’s 150-year history. Philadelphia, in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, joins alongside two other United States zoos to successfully hatch a clutch, according to its website.
“This is a significant milestone in the history of Philadelphia Zoo, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this news with our city, region, and the world,” said Jo-Elle Mogerman, Philadelphia Zoo president and CEO. The zoo hopes the milestone will become a testament of the species’ enduring survival, as well as a call for increasing attention to wildlife preservation.
The parents of the hatchlings are female “Mommy” and male “Abrazzo,” according to the Philadelphia Zoo. They are the zoo’s oldest inhabitants, with Mommy being a resident since 1932.
Estimated to be over 100 years old, the birth makes Mommy the oldest first-time mother of her species. While Mommy has laid four rounds of eggs since 2023, this was her first successful delivery, according to The Smithsonian Magazine
“This is a monumental achievement for our animal care team,” said Lauren Augustine, director of Herpetology and Birds at the Philadelphia Zoo. “[They] worked diligently to provide the right conditions for Mommy to lay her eggs and for the eggs to incubate and successfully hatch.”
Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. In their native habitat of the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, the population has dwindled from 250,000 to a mere 17,000 today, according to the London Zoo.
The species’ decline has been attributed to excessive hunting, as well as the introduction of invasive species, according to LiveScience. These four newborns will add to the 44 Western Santa Cruz tortoises combined in all zoos in the U.S.
“Every additional tortoise counts,” said Juan Manuel Vazquez, a biologist with expertise in Galapagos tortoises, to The New York Times.
Mommy’s age is not the only reason why her birth is significant to the continuation of her species. She is considered to be one of the most genetically valuable tortoises in the AZA SSP, according to Philadelphia Zoo. The addition of her offspring will provide greater gene variability to the managed population.
“Until now, Mommy’s genes were not represented in the AZA population, making these offspring extremely important in the protection of this species,” Augustine said.
In addition to this monumental feat, the zoo hopes these hatchlings will connect visitors with their broader mission of environmental awareness. Vice President of Animal Well-Being and Conservation Rachel Metz stated, “These hatchlings not only protect the species from extinction, but serve as important ambassadors to inspire guests to save wildlife and wild places.”
The four female hatchlings will be available for viewing starting April 23, according to the Philadelphia Zoo. This will mark Mommy’s 93rd anniversary since arrival. Mommy and Abrazzo are also available to meet in the zoo’s “Behind-the-Scenes” experience, along with the zoo’s other Giant tortoises.
Cambodian rat aids landmine detection efforts
The new world record for the most landmines sniffed out by a rat has been set, according to the Guiness Book of World Records. Ronin, an African giant pouched rat from Cambodia, has uncovered 109 landmines, as well as 15 other unexploded ordnances, over the course of three and a half years. Ronin has become the first of his kind to beat the 100 mine mark, according to the BBC.
Ronin and other members of the pack work in the Siem Rapp region of northwestern Cambodia. This region, as well as other parts of Cambodia, are recent, former conflict zones. The nation’s participation in the Vietnam War and civil military conflicts have resulted in an estimated four to six million unexploded landmines and other munitions in the country, APOPO writes. Landmine and other explosive remnants of war have resulted in 65,000 casualties since 1979 in Cambodia, according to Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.
The Guiness Book of World Records wrote, “This crucial work is making a tangible difference to people who have been blighted for decades by the fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last.”
Ronin works with Anti-Personnel Landmines Detection Product Development, a Belgian nonprofit that addresses landmines through research, development and deployment of scent detection technology, according to the APOPO website. One of their primary focuses is using landmine detection rats. These “HeroRATS,” as they are called, are trained to sniff out the chemicals found in these abandoned explosive weapons. Since 1997, the organization has managed to clear almost 170,000 explosives.
The HeroRATS small bodies, high intelligence and keen sense of smell make them perfect for a job too dangerous for humans, wrote the Guinness Book of World Records. In 30 minutes, they are able to search an area the size of a tennis court, a job that would take a human roughly four days, CNN World reported.
At two feet long and weighing almost three pounds, Ronin is not a typical rat. He is described by APOPO as “focused” and “hardworking,” as well as gentle and a lover of shoulder rides.
“Ronin’s achievements are a testament to the incredible potential of rats,” said Ronin’s main handler, Phanny. “He’s not just an asset; he’s a valued partner and colleague.”
Ronin’s record follows Magawa, a fellow APOPO service member. Magawa discovered 39 landmines and 28 unexploded munitions, according to the BBC. For his contributions, he was awarded the PDSA’s Gold Metal, an achievement Ronin could potentially meet in his future.
