Houston Zoo News Blog
At 90 years young, Mr. Pickles is the oldest animal at the Houston Zoo and first-time father after three radiated tortoise eggs hatched. These little Pickles are a big deal for radiated tortoise genetics as their father, Mr. Pickles, is the most genetically valuable radiated tortoise in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP).
Mr. Pickles has been at the Zoo for 36 years and has been with his companion, Mrs. Pickles, since she arrived in 1996. The new
tortoises have been named Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeño and will
remain behind the scenes in the Reptile & Amphibian House until they are big enough to safely join their parents.
Radiated tortoises are critically endangered from over-collection for the illegal pet trade and are known to produce few offspring. For more info, visit https://www.houstonzoo.org/blog/oh-sweet-baby-pickles/