DD Animal News – Move over, new dads of the world—there’s a new Father’s Day legend in town, and he’s carrying the title like a true heavyweight. At a shell-shocking 135 years old, Goliath, a Galapagos tortoise and the oldest resident of Zoo Miami, just became a dad for the very first time.
Goliath, who weighs in at 517 pounds, celebrated his milestone birthday and his first Father’s Day on Sunday in a momentous double whammy. After nearly a century-and-a-half of slow and steady living, this gentle giant has officially passed on his ancient genes to the next generation.
“Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others,” Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. “He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up.”
A Hatchling Against the Odds
The new baby tortoise emerged from one of eight eggs laid by Sweet Pea, Goliath’s longtime companion, January 27. The single successful hatch took place on June 4, marking the first Galapagos tortoise ever born at Zoo Miami—and Goliath’s first confirmed offspring in over 40 years at the zoo.
It’s a significant conservation milestone, as Galapagos tortoises are endangered due to centuries of exploitation, habitat loss, and the introduction of invasive species to their native islands. The invasive species include rats, pigs, dogs and cats which prey upon the eggs of giant tortoises. They also compete for resources as well as attack adult tortoises. Today, climate change presents an additional threat to these iconic reptiles.
For Goliath and Sweet Pea—estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old—this successful hatch brings renewed hope to a species that once faced near extinction.
An Ancient Life Well-Lived
According to zoo records, Goliath hatched sometime between 1885 and 1890 on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, located several hundred miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador. He began his zoo life in 1929 at the Bronx Zoo before transferring to Zoo Miami in 1981.
Despite multiple attempts to breed with different females over the decades, this is Goliath’s first confirmed offspring. And while the new hatchling is being kept in a separate enclosure for monitoring, both parents are thriving in their shared public habitat.
Galapagos tortoises don’t actually raise their young. In the wild, hatchlings are left to fend for themselves, so it’s business as usual for mom and dad.
One Small Step for a Tortoise, One Giant Leap for the Species
The hatching of Goliath’s offspring is more than a feel-good story—it’s a win for science and conservation. With Galapagos tortoises living well over 100 years and playing a key ecological role in their native habitat, every new baby matters.
With conservation work being so vital, Goliath’s journey from the Galapagos Islands to becoming a first-time father is a testament to the resilience of life—and a reminder that it’s never too late to make a difference.
Happy Father’s Day, Goliath. You’ve earned it.
