The Houston Zoo announced that 90-year-old tortoise Mr. Pickles, with 53-year-old Mrs. Pickles, welcomed three hatchlings named Dill, Gherkin, and Jalapeño. These radiated tortoises are critically endangered due to the illegal pet trade.
Mr and Mrs Pickles have been a ‘couple’ since she first arrived at the zoo in 1996, but the first-time dad has been a resident for 36 years.
“These little Pickles are a big deal (big dill?) for radiated tortoise genetic as their father, Mr. Pickles, is the most genetically valuable radiated tortoise in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums” (AZA) Species Survival Plan,’ according to the zoo’s announcement.
While Mr and Mrs Pickles have been together for decades, she only recently laid eggs once – and it was just by chance a herpetology keeper saw it happening at closing time.
And the lucky sighting likely saved the lives of the hatchlings.
The zoo explained Houston soil is not hospitable to the Madagascar native tortoises, and it is unlikely the eggs would have hatched on their own.
The keeper swiftly collected the eggs and brought them to the Reptile & Amphibian House.
Radiated tortoises were once among the world’s most abundant tortoise species, with millions in population.
This species is now ranked as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to the illegal pet trade stealing them from their natural habitats.
“One of the most troubling trends is that poachers are now entering protected areas to collect tortoises and the staff there are poorly equipped to patrol and protect populations,” said Wildlife Conservation Society in a 2010 statement.
The Houston Zoo announced the arrival of three radiated tortoise hatchlings named Dill, Gherkin, and Jalapeno, emphasizing their critical endangered status due to the illegal pet trade.
The radiated tortoise population has declined due to poaching, drought, and habitat degradation. Turtle Survival Alliance president Rick Hudson warned in 2010: “Radiated tortoises are under siege like never before. If we don’t protect their habitats, we risk losing this species.”
