Santa Cruz Island
Today, tortoises and hatchlings were our focus. The Galápagos giant tortoises live on the island of Santa Cruz (Geochelone elephantopus porteri), as well as other famous individuals.
Have you met Diego? He lived in San Diego many years before being returned to his islands of origin (perhaps not his exact island of origin, Española, but nearby at the Charles Darwin Research Station) in order to help re-establish his population. His descendants, along with the efforts of the other two males and twelve females, have re-populated the island with over 1500 young tortoises, and some of the first repatriated individuals are breeding successfully on their own.
Another character, Lonesome George, was also active today. His head and neck as well as the heads and necks of his companion females were stretched to the limit, exposing the extremely bright yellow throat coloration typical of saddle-backs.
Everyone in the tortoise breeding area were watching, listening, and smelling for the arrival of Fausto Llerena, their caretaker of years, to stop by with brunch. The meal today consisted of Erythrina, a legume grown in the highlands, and the stems of taro, chopped into small pieces for small mouths. The young hatchlings lined up to bite down chunks of leaf. Others clambered over each other to reach what appeared to the most succulent piece which was always the furthest.
The afternoon put the tortoises into perspective. They wandered slowly through the highlands, munching grasses, almost visibly absorbing the moisture-laden garúa mist (inversion layer). We’ve gone through a long dry spell, and the wetness has been received with thankfulness and greeness.
Today, tortoises and hatchlings were our focus. The Galápagos giant tortoises live on the island of Santa Cruz (Geochelone elephantopus porteri), as well as other famous individuals.
Have you met Diego? He lived in San Diego many years before being returned to his islands of origin (perhaps not his exact island of origin, Española, but nearby at the Charles Darwin Research Station) in order to help re-establish his population. His descendants, along with the efforts of the other two males and twelve females, have re-populated the island with over 1500 young tortoises, and some of the first repatriated individuals are breeding successfully on their own.
Another character, Lonesome George, was also active today. His head and neck as well as the heads and necks of his companion females were stretched to the limit, exposing the extremely bright yellow throat coloration typical of saddle-backs.
Everyone in the tortoise breeding area were watching, listening, and smelling for the arrival of Fausto Llerena, their caretaker of years, to stop by with brunch. The meal today consisted of Erythrina, a legume grown in the highlands, and the stems of taro, chopped into small pieces for small mouths. The young hatchlings lined up to bite down chunks of leaf. Others clambered over each other to reach what appeared to the most succulent piece which was always the furthest.
The afternoon put the tortoises into perspective. They wandered slowly through the highlands, munching grasses, almost visibly absorbing the moisture-laden garúa mist (inversion layer). We’ve gone through a long dry spell, and the wetness has been received with thankfulness and greeness.
