The Tropricarium, a zoo in Servion, Switzerland, has reason to celebrate the arrival of this unique animal. On February 11th, a 220-pound female tortoise laid eggs, and on May 1st and May 5th, respectively, two young tortoises hatched, each weighing just 1.8 ounces. After being carefully nurtured in an incubator for a month, they are now making their public debut. The albino condition is a hereditary disorder that affects only a fraction of the population, inhibiting melanin production. This rare albino tortoise is covered in white scales, sports white skin, and exhibits red eyes due to visible blood vessels.
The zoo staff expressed their astonishment, stating, “We were surprised to discover an albino newborn.” This momentous event marks the first albino Galápagos tortoise to be born and raised in captivity, with none having been observed in the wild. Albino individuals are rare, speculated to occur in just 1 in 100,000 tortoises, as it requires the presence of two recessive genes for the trait to manifest.
These albino babies are not only a delightful addition to the zoo but also hold unique importance. Galápagos giant tortoises are known for their combative mating behavior, often involving biting. In the wild, distinguishing males from females is challenging, with the differentiation occurring during incubation. Warmer conditions yield females, while cooler conditions result in males. Additionally, these young creatures mysteriously disappear during the first five years of their lives, presumably hiding from predators on their island habitat. They reappear at around five years old, having grown too large for hawks to carry away.
