Today, 18 July, Mykolaiv Zoo welcomed two remarkable new residents – Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea), also known as Seychelles giant tortoises, native to the Seychelles Islands.
The tortoises are a special gift marking the 125th anniversary of Mykolaiv Zoo from renowned Ukrainian herpetologist Dmytro Tkachov, founder and owner of the Bion Terrarium Centre for the Breeding of Rare Animal Species in Kyiv.
The young tortoises are 12-13 years old. The male is named Felix, and the female is Amalka. Each weighs approximately 42 kg.
They were bred at a specialized breeding facility in the Czech Republic. The species is endemic to Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles Islands.
Aldabra giant tortoises are a rare species, with some individuals in human care living for up to 150 years.
The tortoises are already on public display in a specially constructed enclosure at the zoo.
