Heartwarming moment: 70-year-old tortoise happy to see eight new babies after ten years of waiting.

A 70-year-old giant tortoise in her condition gave birth to eight Galapagos giant tortoise babies.

Dirk, named after Boogie Nights star Dirk Diggler, was joined by three women who have pens at Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire.

In March, two baby turtles were found to have hatched from the eggs of a 21-year-old female, Charlie.

This is the first time a British zoo has successfully bred a Galapagos giant tortoise. Dirk mated with a female turtle, Isabella, who hatched in July..

Dirk, named after Boogie Nights porn star Dirk Diggler, works with three women who own a pen at Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire..

The arrival of eight babies at Crocodiles of the World in Norton Breeze is a huge boost to the conservation status of the Galapagos giant tortoise, an endangered species

Charlie lays two more eggs fertilized by Dirk . The body is in very good shape and has just clicked.

The arrival of eight babies at Crocodiles of the World in Norton Breeze is a huge boost to the conservation status of the Galapagos giant tortoise, an endangered species.

There are about 15,000 individuals left in the world today, compared to 200,000 in the 1800s. Shaun Foggett, founder and director of Crocodiles of the World, said: “The first two babies to Charlie in March, then we hatched four chicks from Isabella in July, and then we had two more eggs from Charlie..

There are about 15,000 left in the world, up from 200,000 in the 1800s. and general health, the hatchlings are separated from the adult turtles.

“It is important that for a decade or so only one collection of giant Galapagos tortoises in Europe has been able to breed this species.

“Dirk shows that there may be tortoises in in European zoos..

Giant Galapagos tortoises are famous for their long necks and are synonymous with Charles Darwin who discovered the theory of evolution by studying them

‘The biggest boost right now is the fact that the knowledge we are able to gain and share from the incubation of the eggs to the raising of the young.

‘This will provide more experience and knowledge on the whole process of breeding the species in a zoo setting.

‘The timings of mating, breeding, behaviour of the adults, any diet and supplementation that we’ve found useful or important will also form part of this body of knowledge we’re getting together on breeding the species.

‘This is all vital information, and can be written up and incorporated with existing knowledge and practices from the islands themselves.

‘Our current plan is to keep the babies here at the zoo for the foreseeable future so we can continue to monitor growth and the condition of them as they grow..

The famous British naturalist discovered that the giant creatures adapted to their environment and their long necks were designed to climb the tall vegetation of the Galapagos

“This is a unique place to learn and contribute to the future of the species.

“Dirk doesn’t seem to be resting and hanging out with the females

The eight turtles may be small, but they grow up to 30 stone for every tol for their long necks, just like Charles Darwin, who discovered the theory of evolution by studying them..

The great British naturalist observed that the giant creatures adapted to their environment and their long necks to reach the high vegetation of the Galapagos.

World Crocodiles also supports the Galapagos Conservation Fund, which conducts research to help develop conservation strategies for the species and protect their future in the Galapagos Islands..

Dirk first came to the UK in 1962 after being captured from the wild in the Galapagos Islands. They can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 900 pounds and die for a year..