Goliath the Galápagos Tortoise: Celebrating First Fatherly Milestone and 135 Years

Goliath, a formidable 517-pound Galápagos tortoise residing at Zoo Miami, welcomed his first baby on June 12, 2025, marking a momentous occasion photographed by the zoo.

This past Sunday saw Goliath bask in dual celebrations: his debut Father's Day and his remarkable 135th birthday.

The birth of his offspring on June 4 followed a four-month incubation period, making it the first Galápagos tortoise hatchling born at Zoo Miami. Previously unsuccessful breeding attempts finally succeeded when Goliath partnered with Sweet Pea, who gave birth to the hatchling.

Despite revolutionary biological parentage, Goliath and Sweet Pea have not interacted much with their tiny progeny.

Zoo officials explained that in natural settings, young tortoises are independent from birth, receiving no parental care. The young one is reportedly thriving and has been relocated from incubation to an individual habitat where it is visibly energetic.

Having spent 43 years in Zoo Miami and previously 52 years at the Bronx Zoo, Goliath's long life could soon be noted by the Guinness World Records as the oldest first-time father. Both he and Sweet Pea are contenders for the oldest first-time parents title.

Exploring the World of Galápagos Tortoises

Native to the Galápagos Islands, these majestic herbivores can lay up to 20 eggs, each the size of a billiard ball.

Remarkably, the hatchlings' sex is influenced by incubation temperatures: cooler conditions yield females, while warmer conditions lead to males.

These tortoises spend four to eight months hatching from their eggs. Males can eventually reach an average weight of 500 pounds, contrasted by females, who generally weigh around 250 pounds.

Their longevity is considerable, with life spans ranging from 100 to 200 years, whether in captivity or the wild, as affirmed by the Philadelphia Zoo.