In 1976, the Galapagos giant
tortoises were in dire straits – the reptiles had become prey to other animals
and their habitat was mostly wiped out. Only 12 female and 2 male tortoises
remained on the island.
Meanwhile, Diego from the San
Diego Zoo in California, was being flown in to try and save the species.
He may now be 100 years old, but
this grandpa’s got game.
Since his return to the Galapagos
Islands fifty years ago, this philandering reptile has basically repopulated
the entire island of Espanola by siring over 800 offspring, thus guaranteeing
the survival of the endangered creatures.
Diego weighs 125 pounds and
measures 5 feet long. He lives on Santa Cruz island in a tortoise-breeding
center with six other female mates, spending his days… working his magic.
Espanola, the island unique to
the Chelonoidis hoodensis species, is
now home to over 2,000 of the tortoises. Though records say it used to shelter
5,000, it’s still an extraordinary comeback for an animal that was facing
extinction.
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