It was a special day recently for Estrella the Galapagos tortoise when she celebrated her 22nd birthday at the Australian Reptile Park.
Keeper Ruby presented her with a delicious cake featuring her favourite foods – prickly pear cactus and watermelon.
Prickly pear is a special treat for Estrella, and keepers are looking forward to gifting her this treat for all of her birthdays to come. After devouring the “cake”, Estrella went on her daily walk to receive more pats and love from visitors.
Estrella arrived at the Australian Reptile Park in October 2021 after the Park’s famous tortoise, Hugo, was put on dating app Tinder back in 2019.
She was meant to arrive in early 2020, but her arrival was delayed due to complications in travel and COVID-19 restrictions.
Estrella came all the way from Zoo Rostock Germany, and since then, Hugo and Estrella have been inseparable life partners.
Head of Reptiles Jake Meney said Estrella is full of personality and will greet anyone with a big smile.
“I love working with her and watching everyone’s faces light up when they see her for the first time,” he said.
“I always say if you didn’t give Estrella’s shell a rub, you haven’t visited the Australian Reptile Park;it really does give you good luck.”
Visitors can see Estrella at the Australian Reptile Park every day during the school holidays and accompany her on her daily walk.
Guests looking for a more personal experience can book a Behind the Scenes tour where they can meet Hugo and Estrella, enter their enclosure, feed them, and give lots of pats. .
In July, a health check up revealed that Estrella was showing signs of follicular development, meaning she would be ready for breeding in the near future.
Hugo and Estrella are paired as part of Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia’s prescribed species breeding program, with hopes Park staff will soon hear the pitter patter of tiny tortoise feet.
Galapagos tortoises eat any green vegetation they can find, along with fibrous vegetation such as grass, tree bark and cacti.
In captivity the tortoises will eat carrots, bamboo stalks, hibiscus leaves and flowers, Lucerne hay and other foods that are high in fibre with the odd piece of fruit as a treat.
Source:
Media release, Jan 12
Australian Reptile Park