Save the Negev Desert Tortoise!

Dear Tortoise Supporters, 

I just came back from a visit to the Small Animal Enclosure at the Zoo, where I went to visit the latest "baby" born last week.

Still un-named, the tiny baby tortoise (pictured during its hatching) is being kept behind-the-scenes in a small terranium until it is big enough to join its cousins and uncles and aunties in the main exhibition. 

This cutie is the third tortoise hatched this season and according to Tal, the small animals keeper, there is lots of dating and mating going on and they hope to have another round of hatchings in the coming months.

Slowly but surely, we are making a difference to the numbers of this critically endangered species!

Have a safe summer!

Rachael and the Tortoise Team

Dear Desert Tortoise Supporters,

Since we last reported to you, of the 6 eggs which were produced by our breeding group and placed in incubation,  3 were fertile and so far 2 have hatched!  A small victory for the conservation of this critically endangered species. The offspring will join their family within their exhibit and we hope in time to produce more.

Captive breeding for desert tortoises requires greater care than in other tortoise species, as the species is more delicate and the clutch is very small. Fortunately, we have a very experienced zoological team who are doing their best for these, the smallest species of tortoise in the northern hemisphere.

Yours, in hope -

Team Tortoise at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo