Santa Cruz Island
On Santa Cruz Island there is a big population of the majestic antediluvian-looking reptiles that give the name to this remote archipelago, the Galapagos giant tortoises. We dedicated the whole day to them. In the morning, we visited the world renowned Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). In this scientific institution we admired the titanic efforts that have been made and still are going on in order to restore the giant tortoises’ populations of the Galápagos Islands. In the afternoon we observed the tortoises in the wild. Several tortoise individuals that live in the CDRS are considered true celebrities.
Lonesome George, the very last of its particular race is one of them. Unfortunately, George is the last living survivor of Pinta Island. Next to George, in fame, we have Diego, he was found in the mid-seventies after living in the San Diego Zoo for more than 42 years! At least Diego is not alone like George. He was repatriated to Ecuador to join the small remaining group that was found in Española Island in the late sixties. The group consisted in twelve females and two males Diego became the third male in the group, a very special one. He created a commotion, older, good looking and eager to mate! Just take a look to the picture of today. Since his arrival many more tortoise babies have hatched. To this date more than one thousand individuals have been sent to Española Island. Can you imagine a giant tortoise repatriated to his home place that is helping to save its own race? This conservation story is one of the most succesful I have ever heard and one that I sincerely admire. Needless to say one of my favorites ever.
On Santa Cruz Island there is a big population of the majestic antediluvian-looking reptiles that give the name to this remote archipelago, the Galapagos giant tortoises. We dedicated the whole day to them. In the morning, we visited the world renowned Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). In this scientific institution we admired the titanic efforts that have been made and still are going on in order to restore the giant tortoises’ populations of the Galápagos Islands. In the afternoon we observed the tortoises in the wild. Several tortoise individuals that live in the CDRS are considered true celebrities.
Lonesome George, the very last of its particular race is one of them. Unfortunately, George is the last living survivor of Pinta Island. Next to George, in fame, we have Diego, he was found in the mid-seventies after living in the San Diego Zoo for more than 42 years! At least Diego is not alone like George. He was repatriated to Ecuador to join the small remaining group that was found in Española Island in the late sixties. The group consisted in twelve females and two males Diego became the third male in the group, a very special one. He created a commotion, older, good looking and eager to mate! Just take a look to the picture of today. Since his arrival many more tortoise babies have hatched. To this date more than one thousand individuals have been sent to Española Island. Can you imagine a giant tortoise repatriated to his home place that is helping to save its own race? This conservation story is one of the most succesful I have ever heard and one that I sincerely admire. Needless to say one of my favorites ever.
