What could be a better sign for a nobler future than to look at a young Galapagos tortoise, exploring its rearing corral on a sunny morning? This is the picture of a lovely little reptile, not older than a year, which was born at the National Park Breeding Center and which someday soon will be repatriated to its home island. It is hard to believe that these tiny little babies could one day weigh over 500 pounds!
We spent the morning here, learning about the efforts to restore the populations of these incredible creatures in the wild. National Park personnel, together with Charles Darwin Research scientists and volunteers, take care of these creatures for five years, until they have the appropriate size and age to be sent back to repopulate their islands.
It’s a sweet sign of hope, doubled by the fantastic finding of the many adult tortoises that we encountered later, roaming freely in the wild. Here in the highlands of Santa Cruz, they can be seen all around, and we encountered many of these serene giants, munching on vegetation, bathing in the mud, or relaxing in the sun.
We must believe that conservation is doable, so that we can trust in a better planet for all! Thanks to successful projects such as this one, it is possible to do so.
