San Diego Zoo’s Galapagos Tortoise, Speed, Dies at 150+Years
"One of the oldest Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis nigra) in captivity has died. Speed, who was brought to the San Diego Zoo in 1933 was estimated to be between 150 & 160 years old. According to… the San Diego Tribune, Speed had been suffering from a variety of ailments, including arthritis. The zoo tried… hydrotherapy, acupuncture, a variety of medicines, & physically therapy but decided to euthanize him June 19 after these efforts were largely unsuccessful.
'He had some severe arthritis, & it just came down to a quality of life question,' Jonny Carlson, primary caregiver for the Galapagos tortoises at the zoo told the Tribune…
Speed was a resident stud in the time he lived at the zoo, having sired 90 other tortoises over the more than 80 years he lived at the zoo, & was also one of the most popular Galapagos tortoises in the zoo’s habitat. The zoo is home to 13 Galapagos tortoises that comprise 4 breeding groups.
John Virata
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/
June 20/2015
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