Slow and steady wins the race.
Aesop’s fabled tale held true for Prospect Park Zoo, which welcomed the birth of five Chinese big-headed turtles in November.
Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society
There are now 15 turtles at the zoo.
It marked the first time this species of turtle — an endangered species native to Southeast Asia — has successfully reproduced at a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The success is sweeter still for the zoo, considering the months of hard work it took to create the perfect environmental and climatic conditions for the turtles to breed, and special husbandry techniques used to incubate the eggs.
Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society
The baby turtle took its first steps in November.
“With so many of the world’s freshwater turtles and tortoises facing extinction, these hatchlings represent significant progress for the conservation of the species,” said Denise McClean, director of the zoo. “The science could help expand breeding programs to other facilities and can be useful to conservation work in the field.”
The hatchlings brought the total number of Chinese big-headed turtles at the Prospect Park and Bronx Zoos to 15. Sadly, only one female adult is currently on exhibit at the Prospect Park Zoo.
Julie Larsen Maher/Wildlife Conservation Society
This is the first time the species has successfully reproduced at a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo, 450 Flatbush Avenue, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March, $8.00 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3, for more information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com
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