Galapagos Tortoises

If the Galapagos Islands are famous for anything, then it has to be for the colossal Galapagos Tortoise. The national symbol of this archipelago, the Galapagos Tortoise is a gentle giant, who has for centuries captured the hearts and minds of visitors to these islands. Galapagos, a Spanish word that translates into ‘giant tortoise’ in English, were the first animals to be spotted by Bishop Tomas de Berlanga in 1535 during his discovery of these islands. Since then these tortoises have come to represent the Galapagos and the endemic wildlife that lives here.

Sometimes weighing as much as 600 pounds, the Galapagos Tortoises can live to be more than 150 years old. With 15 subspecies, 3 of which are now extinct, these tortoises have features that very from island to island, with saddle-backed tortoises found on hotter drier islands, while domed-shaped tortoises can be found where the climate is cooler and the vegetation more lush.

Herbivorous reptiles, the peaceful Galapagos Tortoises have a diet rich in grass, fruit, cacti, vines and other plants. A unique aspect of these creatures is that they can live for over a year without eating or drinking, by storing water and food in their bodies.

Today, unfortunately these wonderful animals are slowly becoming extinct, with only 15,000 tortoises remaining in the wild. When visiting these islands, a great place to check out the Galapagos Tortoise is at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Isla Santa Cruz near Puerto Ayora. This research center is helping to look after these remarkable reptiles and study their ways of life so as to help them survive.

When at the research station, don’t forget to visit Lonesome George, an Isla Pinta Galapagos Tortoise sub specie, who is the only one of his kind remaining. Several attempts him been made to cross breed him with other subspecies of tortoises, but no headway has been made in this matter. Looks like for now George will have to say lonesome till he can decide on a mate!

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