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Endangered tortoises hatch at Knoxville Zoo
The Knoxville Zoo has added another accomplishment to their already impressive list. In November 2008, the zoo become one of only four Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organizations to hatch the critically endangered Burmese star tortoise.
The five tortoises hatched in the fall of 2008. One more remains in incubation and is due to arrive in either late February or early March.
In 1996, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) put the tortoise on its critically endangered list. What’s even worse, the number of Burmese star tortoises has declined because of deforestation and poaching, leading experts to believe the species is close to extinction in the wild.
To help rebuild the population, AZA accredited zoos and aquariums, in conjunction with the Turtle Survival Alliance, have worked together to develop successful incubation periods. The Knoxville Zoo will be able to share what they’ve learned from their successful hatches with other AZA accredited zoos.
The tortoises won’t be on display until Spring of 2008.
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