This Rare Albino Galapagos Tortoise Is Exactly What We Needed to See Today
An albino Galapagos tortoise is the kind of rare animal sighting that stops people in their tracks. This tiny hatchling has already drawn attention for being something most wildlife fans will never see in person.
The tortoise was born at a zoo in Switzerland, where staff were surprised to see an albino baby among the usual hatchlings. Since Galapagos tortoises are already remarkable animals, this unusual birth made the moment even more memorable.
Now the little tortoise is getting plenty of attention, and it is easy to see why.
Here's the first look at this adorable little creature.
The Tropiquarium of Servion, a zoo in Switzerland, was housing giant Galapagos turtles when they were surprised by the birth of a rare albino giant Galapagos turtle.
One thing to note is that this is the FIRST albino giant Galapagos turtle to ever be born.
This is the first time in the world that an albino Galápagos tortoise has been born and kept in captivity, the zoo announced in a statement. No albino individuals have ever been observed in the wild, either.
And if you’re still smiling, check out Jonathan, the oldest tortoise, throwing a 190th birthday three-day party.
It turns out that this little guy does have a sibling, but that turtle looks just like mom and dad.
It's astonishing to know that two turtles were born from the same set of parents, with one being completely "normal," while the albino one has stolen the spotlight since its birth. These little turtles were born in May, and you can see them side by side in this image.
The reasoning behind the zoo housing these turtles makes for an even better reason to continue breeding them.
The parent Galapagos turtles were kept in this zoo to help conserve their species. Galapagos turtles are considered endangered, with only about 15,000 remaining, so these little turtles have definitely contributed to increasing the population by at least two.
Here's a closer look at this adorable little rare albino giant Galapagos turtle.
Albinism isn't particularly rare in terms of humans or other animals, but for turtles, albino individuals are quite uncommon, making this occurrence special. The chance of having an albino turtle is 1 in 100,000.
So you could say this little turtle is indeed quite special.
Nature is truly wonderful. Seeing this little turtle reminds us that nature can surprise us, and even in its rarest forms, life is to be celebrated.
Be sure to follow the journey of the Galapagos turtles as zoos and wildlife workers around the world strive to conserve their species so we can see more adorable turtles like this one.
Want more tortoise magic, too? Read how Jonathan celebrated his 190th birthday with a three-day party.
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