Hyderabad: A revered Galapagos giant tortoise, approximately 125 years old, breathed its last at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad on Saturday, succumbing to age-related complications, as confirmed by zoo officials.
According to a statement released by the Nehru Zoological Park, the male Galapagos giant tortoise had been battling age-related ailments and had ceased eating for the past ten days. The zoo’s veterinary team had been diligently caring for him during this period.
This tortoise held a distinguished status as one of the oldest residents of the zoo, alongside another tortoise aged 95. Both had been star attractions since the zoo’s inauguration, the statement noted.
Originally hailing from the Public Gardens (Bagh-E-Aam) in the city, this tortoise had been relocated to Nehru Zoological Park in 1963, where it had resided ever since.
Following the tortoise’s demise, a postmortem examination was conducted, revealing that the cause of death was multiple organ failure. Samples have been dispatched to VBRI and Veterinary College, Rajendranagar, for further analysis.
The Curator and zoo staff expressed their heartfelt condolences on the loss of the tortoise, underscoring its significance to the zoo’s heritage.
