Live Galapagos Tortoise on exhibit
© AMNH / Kathryn McGinley
MEET OUR TORTOISES
How old are these tortoises?
Born in captivity in 1992, these dome-shelled tortoises are both in their teens. But giant tortoises can live to be over 100!
How big are they?
Each currently weighs about 23 kg (50 lb) but will continue to grow for the rest of its life. Some males grow up to 130 cm (about 4 feet) long and weigh up to 270 kg (600 lb).
Are they male or female?
They both appear to be female—but it is difficult to say for sure. Their sex cannot be positively determined until they reach sexual maturity, when they're around 40 years old.
Where are they from?
Wisconsin! Both of these tortoises were born and raised at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
What do they eat?
Captive tortoises eat mostly hay, but they also enjoy fruit and vegetables. In the wild, tortoises eat grasses, vines and cacti.
Tortoises on loan courtesy of Clyde Peeling's Reptiland, Allenwood, PA
