Giant Tortoise Helps Species Avoid Extinction By Fathering 800 Babies

Jan 15, 2020 by apost team

50 years ago, there were only 14 Chelonoidis hoodensis tortoises alive on Española Island, one of the Galápagos Islands: 12 females and two males. About three decades prior to that, a 20-year-old male tortoise of that species was, according to the Galápagos National Parks service (PNG), likely taken from the Galápagos by a scientific expedition, reports Discover Magazine. However, what appeared to be tragic for him and his species ultimately turned into a species-saving move in the end.

This now 100-year-old giant tortoise, who weighs 175 pounds, had been one of 14 male tortoises that were later selected to participate in a breeding program in the 1960s. They headed to Santa Cruz Island, which is located 60 miles west of Los Angeles and 40 miles south of Santa Barbara, and were parts of it for some time. In fact, according to the NY Times, this tortoise had such an amazing libido and was so prolific that he ended up fathering 800 of the 2,000 giant tortoises that were born as a result of this program.

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As a result, his home in the Galápagos Islands, which is part of the country of Ecuador and 600 miles from its mainland, is now a thriving tortoise community of 1,800. And he will soon return to it after 80 years away. What he and those who may welcome his return may not realize is that he has fathered at least 800 of them or about 40% of its population, according to PNG’s estimates.

Jorge Carrion, PNG’s director, is excited about the upcoming reunion, telling CNN, “There’s a feeling of happiness to have the possibility of returning that tortoise to his natural state.” After this giant tortoise had been ripped from his home eight decades ago, he was forced to spend time in the San Diego Zoo before transitioning into performing as a hero in saving his species.

Before he returns to Española Island, the tortoise will need to spend some time in quarantine. Scientists are ensuring that he does not introduce seeds from plants that are not native to Espanola Island upon his return before they release him back to his homeland.

Do you think this giant tortoise will realize that he has hundreds of sons and daughters in his rejoined community? Will his children know that he’s their father? Will this giant tortoise remember his former home, sparking memories of his time there to flood through his brain upon his return?