Turtlespeed's big cousins back from the brink of extinction

[ZigZagMarquis 8]

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/10/29/after-facing-extinction-tortoise-species-on-galapagos-island-makes-comeback/

After decades of struggle, the giant tortoises on one of the islands of Ecuador’s Galapagos are thriving thanks to the efforts of conservationists and the government of the South American nation.

Thanks to a breeding program, the three-foot-long tortoises — Chelonoidis hoodensis – went from 15 remaining green guys about 50 years ago to now more than 1,000 on the island of Española.

"We saved a species from the brink of extinction and now can step back out of the process. The tortoises can care for themselves," said James Gibbs, a vertebrate conservation biology professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry who led the study, told Reuters.

Fifty years ago, scientists had labeled these saddle-back shelled tortoises – which can live up to 200 years – as an extinct species. The tortoises eat grass and leaves during the wet season and cactus during the dry season on the island's dry season, which is arid, low, rocky and measures only 23 square miles.

"The tortoises were hunted by buccaneers, whalers and other sea goers throughout the 18th and 19th centuries," said Linda Cayot, a herpetologist who is science advisor to the Galapagos Conservancy group. "They collected them live, stacked them in their holds, and had fresh meat on their long voyages. Tortoises can live up to a year without food or water, so a natural source of fresh meat."

The population of tortoises on Española was estimated to be around 5,000 to 10,000 before the arrival of humans on the island.

When the scientists decided to save the population in 1960, the 14 tortoises - 12 females and two males – were bred in captivity before they were reintroduced to the island.

"Nobody knew how to breed tortoises in captivity and the best zoos around the world had failed. The Galapagos National Park figured it out and actually became exceedingly effective at it," Gibbs said.

The story of the tortoises on Española sharply contrasts with that of one famous tortoise on the island on Pinta: Lonesome George.

Lonesome George," the last survivor of the subspecies Chelonoidis abingdoni of the giant tortoises ("Galapagos" in Spanish) that gave Ecuador's Galapagos Islands their name, died in January of 2012 without ever breeding.

George was rescued in 1972 by a team of hunters who were there to eradicate the goats, a species introduced by man that had virtually destroyed the habitat and brought the giant tortoises to the brink of extinction.

Different methods were used to stimulate reproduction, at first with females of the subspecies from Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, with which George finally mated after being in their company for 15 years, but the eggs were infertile.

Later it was placed in a corral with females of the genetically closer subspecies from Española Island, where he remained until he died.

[BillyVance 34]

Nice!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[ryoder 1,397]

Looks like Turtle also had an encounter with the law recently: http://www.nj.com/burlington/index.ssf/2014/10/suspected_parking_lot_toe-toucher_arrested.html

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[ZigZagMarquis 8]

ryoder

Looks like Turtle also had an encounter with the law recently: http://www.nj.com/burlington/index.ssf/2014/10/suspected_parking_lot_toe-toucher_arrested.html

WTF!??! Was that actually Turtle?

[billeisele 122]

I worked for the Darwin Institute as a biologist for awhile, the most beautiful, desolate, native, wild place I've ever lived

the actual problem on the islands is the introduction of non-native species, primarily rats, ants, pigs, dogs and goats

the endemic species were stable (in the sense that an ecosystem is stable) until the introduction of these other critters, they eat turtle eggs, destroy habitat, eat the same food turtles eat and eat the small turtles, they also eat other native species, the damage was most noticeable with turtles because the reproduction rate and growth rates are slow

the Galapagos National Park used/is using rangers, biologists and hired hunters to reduce or eliminate these species

some of these islands are as rugged as you can imagine, one has active volcanos, on the islands with the dogs, while you hunt them they hunt you, night time was especially interesting, the most effective hunting method was found to be baited hooks, cruel but effective, the dog islands also had goats, as the goats were eliminated the dogs became more hungry and dangerous, both were hunted at the same time but the goats were easier to kill, once the population was reduced the dogs took care of the rest, then the fun began, in a few years the job was done

the pigs took awhile, the ants and rats are ongoing issues, eradication probably won't happen so control is the answer

Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

[kallend 1,646]

ZigZagMarquis

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/10/29/after-facing-extinction-tortoise-species-on-galapagos-island-makes-comeback/

After decades of struggle, the giant tortoises on one of the islands of Ecuador’s Galapagos are thriving thanks to the efforts of conservationists and the government of the South American nation.

Thanks to a breeding program, the three-foot-long tortoises — Chelonoidis hoodensis – went from 15 remaining green guys about 50 years ago to now more than 1,000 on the island of Española.

"We saved a species from the brink of extinction and now can step back out of the process. The tortoises can care for themselves," said James Gibbs, a vertebrate conservation biology professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry who led the study, told Reuters.

Fifty years ago, scientists had labeled these saddle-back shelled tortoises – which can live up to 200 years – as an extinct species. The tortoises eat grass and leaves during the wet season and cactus during the dry season on the island's dry season, which is arid, low, rocky and measures only 23 square miles.

"The tortoises were hunted by buccaneers, whalers and other sea goers throughout the 18th and 19th centuries," said Linda Cayot, a herpetologist who is science advisor to the Galapagos Conservancy group. "They collected them live, stacked them in their holds, and had fresh meat on their long voyages. Tortoises can live up to a year without food or water, so a natural source of fresh meat."

The population of tortoises on Española was estimated to be around 5,000 to 10,000 before the arrival of humans on the island.

When the scientists decided to save the population in 1960, the 14 tortoises - 12 females and two males – were bred in captivity before they were reintroduced to the island.

"Nobody knew how to breed tortoises in captivity and the best zoos around the world had failed. The Galapagos National Park figured it out and actually became exceedingly effective at it," Gibbs said.

The story of the tortoises on Española sharply contrasts with that of one famous tortoise on the island on Pinta: Lonesome George.

Lonesome George," the last survivor of the subspecies Chelonoidis abingdoni of the giant tortoises ("Galapagos" in Spanish) that gave Ecuador's Galapagos Islands their name, died in January of 2012 without ever breeding.

George was rescued in 1972 by a team of hunters who were there to eradicate the goats, a species introduced by man that had virtually destroyed the habitat and brought the giant tortoises to the brink of extinction.

Different methods were used to stimulate reproduction, at first with females of the subspecies from Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, with which George finally mated after being in their company for 15 years, but the eggs were infertile.

Later it was placed in a corral with females of the genetically closer subspecies from Española Island, where he remained until he died.

I was fourtunate to see George about 3 months before he died. Also got a nice picture of giant tortoises humping.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[turtlespeed 212]

ryoder

Looks like Turtle also had an encounter with the law recently: http://www.nj.com/burlington/index.ssf/2014/10/suspected_parking_lot_toe-toucher_arrested.html

They just won't get off my back!

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun