80-year-old island creature sires five hatchlings at Oklahoma zoo. ‘Monumental’

At 80 years old, Max is in the prime of his life, navigating his habitat in the company of three females the same species as him.

He’s also a new father to five hatchlings, who recently were born in an incubator at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, it announced July 11.

They were the first hatchlings sired by Max, a Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise who has been a resident at the zoo for 50 years.

“Welcoming these hatchlings is monumental considering Max, 80, is a ‘late bloomer,’” senior herpetology caretaker Katie Porth said in a news release.

The zoo is part of the species survival program for the Galápagos tortoises, but reproduction wasn’t easy for the 80-year-old Max.

Zoo officials said Max had to be coached with positive reinforcement during the fertilization process.

“Max showed interest in the girls but didn’t really know what he was doing,” Porth said.

But as the zoo celebrates the births, there remain questions. What sex are they? Who is their mother?

Zoo officials said the sex of the palm-sized hatchlings won’t be known for 10 to 15 years, at which point they will be the size of footballs.

The mother, officials commented on Facebook, is believed to be Isa or Ellie, both not too far off in age from Max.

Max, Isa and Ellie are joined in their habitat with Mrs. B, zoo officials say. Their ages range from 70 to possibly 140.

But the adult tortoises won’t be doing typical parenting duties with the little ones, according to the zoo.

“Galápagos tortoises do not parent their young, so keeping them separate from the adult tortoises ensures their development,” the zoo said.

The hatchlings can be seen in the zoo’s herpetarium, while the adults remain in their Galápagos tortoise habitat.

Galápagos tortoises are the world’s largest tortoises. They can reach 550 pounds. Max was listed at a modest 456 pounds in 2021.