At 135 years old, most creatures would be slowing down. But not Goliath. This Galápagos tortoise just pulled off something no one saw coming: celebrating his first-ever Father’s Day—and his 135th birthday—at the same time.
That’s right. After more than a century of life, Goliath is now a dad.
A Long Life, A Longer Wait
Goliath’s story begins all the way back in the late 1800s. He was likely born between 1885 and 1890 on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos. In 1929, he was brought to the Bronx Zoo, and later moved to Zoo Miami in 1981. Since then, he’s been a calm, towering presence—more than 600 pounds of slow-moving wonder.
Despite his size and age, Goliath had never fathered any offspring. That changed this month.
The Hatchling That Made History
On January 27, Goliath and his companion Sweet Pea—herself somewhere between 85 and 100 years old—laid eight eggs. Staff kept a close eye on them, knowing the odds were slim. But after 128 days of careful incubation, something amazing happened.
One of the eggs hatched.
The tiny tortoise emerged on June 4, strong and healthy. It’s the first Galápagos tortoise ever hatched at Zoo Miami—and it made Goliath a first-time dad at 135.
A Father’s Day Like No Other
Zoo Miami celebrated the milestone just in time for Father’s Day. The zoo is even reaching out to Guinness World Records to see if Goliath could be officially recognized as the oldest first-time father in history. If approved, Goliath and Sweet Pea might also hold the title for oldest first-time parents.
Ron Magill, Zoo Miami’s spokesman, couldn’t hide his excitement.
“He’s my hero,” Magill said. “He’s living proof that it’s never too late.”
What Kind of Dad Is He?
Well, not a very involved one—and that’s completely normal for tortoises. In the wild, hatchlings are on their own from day one. So while Goliath doesn’t cuddle up with his new kid, he’s still doing just fine. The baby tortoise has been moved to a special care area to ensure it thrives.
Goliath and Sweet Pea remain in excellent health, and zoo staff are hopeful more hatchlings could follow.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a sweet story—it’s also a big win for conservation. Galápagos tortoises were once hunted nearly to extinction, and breeding them in captivity is incredibly difficult. Every successful hatch helps preserve a species that still faces threats from habitat loss and climate change.
It also shows what patience and good care can achieve. Tortoises don’t reach full maturity until they’re around 30 or 40 years old. Breeding attempts often take years, and success is never guaranteed.
But Goliath? He’s proof that good things really do come to those who wait.
A Birthday to Remember
As cake was passed around (to humans, not tortoises), Zoo Miami celebrated not just a birthday, but a breakthrough. At 135, Goliath has become a symbol of endurance and surprise. For a creature whose life has spanned three centuries, this new chapter might be his most meaningful yet.
