-
Nov 14, 2006 1:51 pm US/Mountain
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Denver Zoo Welcomes First Baby Leopard Tortoise
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The
Denver Zoo released pictures and video Tuesday of a new baby
leopard tortoise that was born at the beginning of the month. The tortoise was on display at the nursery in Tropical Discovery at the zoo.
The animal was incubated for 140 days. It was the first leopard tortoise ever to be hatched at the Denver Zoo.
Cracking its way into the world on Nov. 1, the youngster was only about the size of a walnut when it made its way out of its shell.
Although the baby is small now, these tortoises grow very quickly, according to the zoo. When it is full-grown, it will be between 16 and 18 inches long and weigh up to 50 pounds.
Leopard tortoises are native to southern Africa and are known for their beautiful black and yellow, leopard-like shell pattern. Female tortoises lay a clutch of between 5-30 eggs which they then cover with soil.
Hatchlings wait several weeks for rain to soften the ground before using their egg tooth to break their shell and burrowing to the surface. Once they emerge from the nest, the young tortoises are easy prey for monitor lizards, storks, crows and small mammals.
The new arrival brings Denver Zoo's leopard tortoise family up to a total of five. The four adult tortoises arrived in 2004 for the opening of Predator Ridge and can be seen just out side "Pahali Ya Simba," the Interpretive Center of Predator Ridge, during the summer months.
(© MMVI CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)