Torebuildtortoisepopulationsinthewild,some arefirstraisedincaptivity.Here’showit works:
1
Inthewild,mothertortoiseslaytheireggsinholes.Theycoverthemwithsand.Whenscientistsfindtheburiedeggs,theybringthemtoarearing center.
2
Eacheggislabeled,weighed,andregistered.Theyarekeptinboxes.Theytake120daysto hatch.
3
Ahatchlingbreaksfreefromitsegg.Itfeedsonitsyolksacfor30 more days.
4
Fortwoyears,youngtortoisesarekeptinpens.Theseprotectthemfrompredators.Theylearntofindtheirown food.
5
Whentheyarefiveyearsold,theyareoldenoughtolookafterthemselves.Thentheyarereleasedtothe wild.
KeepingthePeace
Anotherconservationgoalistopreventconflictsbetweenhumansandtortoises.SantaCruz,SanCristóbal,andIsabelahavealreadyseen conflicts.
OnSantaCruz,tortoiseshaveeatenplastics.Othershavebeenhitbycars.Onewasattackedbystraydogs.ThepeopleoftheGalápagosknowandvaluethe treasure theyhaveinthegianttortoises.Theyaretryingmanywaystoprotect them.
Ababytortoisecrawlsacrossa leaf.
PROTECTTHENATURALWORLD
OneofNationalGeographic’sgoalsistohelpprotectEarth’swildplaces.HowdidthestoriesmakeyoufeelabouttheGalápagosIslands?Doyouthinkitisimportanttoprotect them?