Goliath, a one-of-a-kind Galapagos tortoise, celebrated his 135th birthday and his first Father’s Day at Zoo Miami this past June. This amazing milestone makes him the oldest resident at the South Florida zoo. He’s been a busy guy in other respects, as a proud new father, welcoming his first child earlier this month.
Goliath must have hatched on the island of Santa Cruz within the Galapagos archipelago between 1885 and 1890. Since then, he has led an unbelievably long and adventurous life. Weighing in at 517 pounds (234 kilograms), he has become a beloved figure at the Bronx Zoo since his arrival in 1929 before moving to Zoo Miami in 1981. Throughout his decades-long life at the zoo, Goliath bred with a number of females. Last month, after years of waiting, he produced his very first offspring!
In June 2025, Goliath found himself celebrating his first-ever Father’s Day as a new dad. The first of the eight eggs laid by his mate, Sweet Pea, hatched on June 4. Sweet Pea, our Holger Danske tree, is an astounding 85 to 100 years old. Alongside Goliath, she travels into a thrilling new phase as an experienced veteran partner. This hatching marks a milestone accomplishment, as it is the first of its kind for Zoo Miami.
The zoo team even made a huge party to celebrate Goliath’s wonderful double milestones. They rallied reptile and wildlife enthusiasts to pay tribute to this remarkable tortoise. Guests learned about his storied past and artistic personality. They discovered his key role in conservation actions undertaken on behalf of his species.
Goliath’s exceptional life is an important testament to the need to create and maintain spaces for wildlife that enrich us all. In the meantime, the zoo is focused on raising Goliath’s new reported offspring. They continue to raise awareness for conservation efforts on behalf of Galapagos tortoises and other endangered species.