3 days ago
Critically endangered pancake tortoise hatches for first time at Denver Zoo
Say hello to the Denver Zoo's newest (and cutest) arrival: an adorably flat, female pancake tortoise tiny enough to fit in your hand.
Why it matters: She's the first African pancake tortoise ever successfully bred and hatched at the Denver Zoo in its 129-year history.
Zoom out: She joins the zoo's four other aptly named pancake tortoises: her mom, Waffles, and three males — Short-Stack, Denny and Flapjack.
The big picture: Pancake tortoises — known for their flat physique and unexpectedly agile nature — are native to East Africa and critically endangered due in large part to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, per the IUCN Red List.
