NZ Press: Long wait for new baby

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on January 01, 2001 at 02:02:57:

Photo: STICKING YOUR NECK OUT: Natureland zoo curator Gail sutton takes a closer look as the park's week-old Californian box tortoise surveys the world from its mother's shell.

NELSON MAIL (New Zealand) 06 December 00 Long wait for new baby (Simon Bloomberg)
After years of trying, Natureland's Californian box tortoises are the proud parents of a week-old baby.
The two tortoises have been at the Nelson wildlife park for eight years, and have been mating unsuccessfully for the last four.
Their persistence finally paid off when a healthy baby hatched out last Wednesday under the watchful eye of Natureland curator Gail Sutton.
The 4cm baby had started hatching four days earlier, and in the finish it needed a helping hand from Mrs Sutton to break out of its leathery shell.
Staff at Natureland are thrilled with the new arrival, although this has been tinged with sadness after the youngster's only sibling died at hatching.
The female had laid two eggs, but one of the babies was not fully developed.
"She's been laying eggs for a few years now, although none of them have hatched. She has always laid two eggs, this time one hatched successfully," Mrs Sutton said.
Californian box tortoises are common in the United States, where they live for up to 80 years.
Mrs Sutton said it was unusual for them to breed in New Zealand. The adults mated and laid eggs regularly, but the eggs would not hatch unless air temperature and humidity were carefully controlled during the 10-week incubation.
"They do it (mate) quite a lot. It's quite interesting, but it's all done at a tortoise's pace it takes a while.
"We quite often get children come running in to us saying there's something wrong with the tortoises, but they're just mating."
The next challenge for staff at Natureland is to encourage the baby to start feeding.
Mrs Sutton said young tortoises could take up to three weeks before they started eating.
"It's difficult breeding them, and it's a bigger challenge to get them eating. But he or she's bright and alert, so it's looking good ."
Mrs Sutton said Californian box tortoises were carnivores, and staff were offering the baby a diet of chopped worms.
The baby will stay in the incubator and remain unnamed until it starts feeding.

Long wait for new baby

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: Photo: STICKING YOUR NECK OUT: Natureland zoo curator Gail sutton takes a closer look as the park's week-old Californian box tortoise surveys the world from its mother's shell. : NELSON MAIL (New Zealand) 06 December 00 Long wait for new baby (Simon Bloomberg) : After years of trying, Natureland's Californian box tortoises are the proud parents of a week-old baby. : The two tortoises have been at the Nelson wildlife park for eight years, and have been mating unsuccessfully for the last four. : Their persistence finally paid off when a healthy baby hatched out last Wednesday under the watchful eye of Natureland curator Gail Sutton. : The 4cm baby had started hatching four days earlier, and in the finish it needed a helping hand from Mrs Sutton to break out of its leathery shell. : Staff at Natureland are thrilled with the new arrival, although this has been tinged with sadness after the youngster's only sibling died at hatching. : The female had laid two eggs, but one of the babies was not fully developed. : "She's been laying eggs for a few years now, although none of them have hatched. She has always laid two eggs, this time one hatched successfully," Mrs Sutton said. : Californian box tortoises are common in the United States, where they live for up to 80 years. : Mrs Sutton said it was unusual for them to breed in New Zealand. The adults mated and laid eggs regularly, but the eggs would not hatch unless air temperature and humidity were carefully controlled during the 10-week incubation. : "They do it (mate) quite a lot. It's quite interesting, but it's all done at a tortoise's pace it takes a while. : "We quite often get children come running in to us saying there's something wrong with the tortoises, but they're just mating." : The next challenge for staff at Natureland is to encourage the baby to start feeding. : Mrs Sutton said young tortoises could take up to three weeks before they started eating. : "It's difficult breeding them, and it's a bigger challenge to get them eating. But he or she's bright and alert, so it's looking good ." : Mrs Sutton said Californian box tortoises were carnivores, and staff were offering the baby a diet of chopped worms. : The baby will stay in the incubator and remain unnamed until it starts feeding.

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