Three giant arrivals at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Three giant tortoises have joined the herd at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

It is hoped that the new arrivals, a male and two females, named Hogarth, Hissy and Stevie, will boost breeding within the group.

The trio have joined the Zoo’s current giant tortoises – Biggie the male, and his three female companions; Twiggy, Helen and Matilda.

It is thought to be the first time Biggie, the Zoo’s only male giant tortoise, has shared his enclosure with another male, and keepers hope the arrival of Hogarth will create competition for Biggie, and kick-start breeding within the group.

Tim Skelton, curator of reptiles at Bristol Zoo Gardens, has worked with the giant tortoises for 11 years. He said: “The arrival of three new giant tortoises is a great addition to our collection. We needed to increase the group size in order to stimulate breeding behaviour in the herd as part of a co-ordinated captive breeding programme for this vulnerable species.”

But the arrival of baby tortoises could take time, as Tim explains: “When it comes to tortoises, nothing happens very quickly, and Biggie has certainly been taking his time when it comes to breeding. He has been here for 35 years but hasn’t taken much interest in the females that have been here during that time. We are hoping that the arrival of another male, as well as two new females, might motivate him into action!”

The tortoises are Aldabra giant tortoises, the only surviving giant tortoise species from the islands of Aldabra and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. The species is classified as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and European zoos are involved in a co-ordinated captive breeding programme for the species.

Biggie has been at Bristol Zoo since 1975 after being donated by Bristol University. His exact age is unknown; he could be between 70 and 100 years old, but he still has plenty of breeding potential as giant tortoises can live to be more than 150.

Competition now comes in the form of Hogarth, who is similar to Biggie’s colossal weight of 175kg (27.6 stone) - equivalent to an adult silverback gorilla.

Hogarth, Hissy and Stevie are on a breeding loan from wildlife expert, Nigel Marven, who presented television’s 'Prehistoric Park'.

Nigel said he would love to see his and Bristol Zoo's tortoises breed together. “My wife Gill, former HTV presenter, our two-year-old daughter Ella and I are already missing the tortoises terribly, but it will be worth it for the patter of tiny claws!” Nigel said. “Of course we'll be visiting them at the Zoo whenever we can."

He added: “I'm not sure of the exact ages of the three tortoises on loan to Bristol Zoo, but they're at least 25 years old. They were bred in captivity in Zanzibar, not their ancestral home, which is Aldabra.”

For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens, or to find out how to adopt Biggie the giant tortoise, visit the zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.ukor phone 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:

Lucy Parkinson, T: 0117 974 7306, E: lparkinson@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

 Notes to editors

 Aldabra giant tortoises

• Aldabra giant tortoises are classified as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
• All giant tortoise populations have declined following contact with humans.
• The Aldabra species is the only giant tortoise now surviving onthe islands of Aldabra and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, as a result of past exploitation.
• Huge numbers were taken by sailing ships as food for long sea voyages, as tortoises survive for long periods without food and thus provide fresh meat. 
• Populations of giant tortoises have been further affected by poaching, the destruction of habitat, and the introduction of mammalian predators such as rats and cats, and food competitors such as goats.
• The tortoises of Aldabra were saved by appeals for the conservation of Aldabra Atoll by eminent scientists of the time, including Charles Darwin, and the leasing of the island by Lord Walter Rothschild who maintained a passionate interest in the biology and conservation of these animals.
• The Aldabra tortoise was recognised to be an endangered species in the late 1800s.
• After 1892, the Aldabran population crashed with only an estimated 1,000 survivors; however since 1925 the population has recovered steadily. 
• The Aldabra giant tortoise is indeed a giant, with individuals reaching up to 1.2 metres in length. Females grow to around 90cm long.
• Males weigh around 250kg and females weigh around 159kg
• The breeding season occurs from February to May, and females lay small clutches of 9 to 25 eggs, of which less than half are fertile in the wild. Hatchlings emerge anything from 3.5 to 7 months later.

 Bristol Zoo Gardens

• Bristol Zoo Gardens is an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work. 
• Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
• To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
• Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
• The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• Bristol Zoo Gardens supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
• In 2010, International Year of Biodiversity, Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.