A Miniscule Baby Sulcata Tortoise Meets Its Massive Father for the Very First Time

For many species, parents stay with their young for a certain time after birth. The video below shows a heartwarming exchange between father and son, but it is an exception to the rule. It’s rare that a sulcata, or African spurred tortoise, ever meets its offspring despite having a long life. This endearing moment was captured on film, but is not common in the wild.

Sulcata Tortoises Don’t Travel in Groups

Sulcata tortoises are generally solitary in the wild, but they can exhibit social behaviors in captivity or controlled environments. Still, they do not seek out lifelong mates, nor do they stay behind to co-parent their young. Over the course of 70 to 100 years, tortoises will seek out multiple partners. Each year, a female tortoise can produce up to 30 hatchlings. Males go on to reproduce with other females, thus keeping the species going. Unlike sea turtles, tortoises have every survival skill they need to endure without their parents’ protection. They’re adept at living independently from birth, and living together often causes more problems than not.

Hatchlings Grow Up Without Help

Once a female lays her eggs, she covers them with a protective layer of mucus and underbrush. She leaves the nest site once the eggs are well hidden from predators. At this point, she’s exhausted but unconcerned with the eggs she left behind. After she finds her way back to her own nest, the hatchlings are left to mature without adult intervention.

This arduous process is done alone, and neither parent returns to the nest to check on their offspring. When sulcata hatchlings are born, they’re only about three inches long. The hatchling in this video is likely several days or weeks old. They grow quickly, experiencing growth spurts in the first five years and reaching full maturity after 15. Young sulcata tortoises are aggressive, which only encourages their solitary lifestyles.

An Independent Upbringing

The sulcata is the largest mainland tortoise, growing up to 30 inches long and weighing up to 200 pounds. These tortoises are slow but massive opponents. After eight months of incubation, hatchlings begin to live and forage independently. When they reach five years old, they seek mates to reproduce. Males become more aggressive with females during this time, who can lay eggs multiple times a year.

In this video, a tortoise caretaker introduces an offspring to its father. While this would never happen in the wild, it’s possible in captivity. Sulcata tortoises breed fairly well in zoos and conservation parks, where one tortoise may have many offspring. The moment is more sentimental for humans, but is a sweet meeting nevertheless.