You may have heard of the Galapagos Islands, a group of volcanic islands located in the central Pacific Ocean known as the "paradise of biological evolution." Here, you can see all kinds of exotic animals such as blue-footed, sea lions, penguins, sharks, turtles and many more. Perhaps the most impressive of these is the Galapagos tortoise.
The Galapagos tortoise is the largest tortoise in the world and one of the longest-lived animals.
Their shells can grow up to 1.5 meters and weigh up to 250 kilograms, equivalent to the weight of an adult. They can live beyond 100 years, and some individuals can even live beyond 150 years. They are shaped like a giant canned meat, walking slowly around the island, eating grass and fruit.
The Galapagos tortoise has a very unique evolutionary history.
They first drifted from the South American continent to the Galapagos Islands, about 2 million years ago. Due to environmental differences between the islands, they gradually diverged into 15 subspecies, each with its own characteristics and habits. For example, some tortoises have hump-shaped shells, which makes it easier for them to stretch their necks to eat plants in high places; Some tortoises have dome-shaped shells that adapt to low and rainy environments; Some tortoises have saddle shells that allow them to move flexibly between rocks.
The Galapagos tortoise is not only the largest animal on the island, but also the most important ecological engineer.
They maintain the diversity and balance of vegetation on the island by eating plants and dispersing seeds. They also provide food and habitat for other animals. Some small reptiles and insects parasitize on their shells; Some birds will use their droppings as fertilizer; Some sea lions even use them as pillows or toys.
Although Galapagos tortoises look strong, they are actually a very vulnerable species. Over the past few centuries, they have suffered severe damage from humans and alien species, leading to a drastic decline in their numbers and extinction.
The first to influence the Galapagos tortoise were European explorers and pirates.
They found these canned animals, used them as food and water, captured tens of thousands of tortoises and put them on boats for months. It is estimated that more than 100,000 tortoises were killed or transported away from the 16th to 19th centuries. Humans established colonies and farms on the island, destroying tortoise habitats. They also introduced exotic species such as goats, pigs, dogs, mice, etc., which would eat the tortoise's food, destroy their nests, spread diseases, and even attack them directly. These alien species also compete with tortoises for resources, increasing pressure on them.
For these reasons, the number of Galapagos tortoises declined from about 250,000 to less than 20,000 in the mid-20th century. Four of these subspecies are extinct, including the most famous "Xiao Luo", the last Piinta Island tortoise, who died in 2012.
In the face of the Galapagos tortoise crisis, humans have also embarked on a series of conservation and restoration measures.
The most important of these was the establishment of the Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Biosphere Reserve, which restricted human movement on the island and protected the natural environment of tortoises and other species.
Artificial breeding and release programmes have also been carried out to increase the number and genetic diversity of tortoises. The Galapagos National Park Service, in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Research Station, has established a tortoise breeding centre that collects tortoises from different islands, performs artificial insemination and hatching, and then releases the hatchlings back to their original islands. Since 1965, the program has successfully released more than 20,000 tortoises.
There are also more creative methods that have also been used to save tortoises. Some scientists use genetic technology to seek genetic information from relatives of extinct subspecies in an attempt to resurrect them. Some scientists use drones and satellite positioning to monitor the distribution and activity of tortoises and prevent the invasion of alien species. Some scientists use social media and educational campaigns to raise public awareness and support for turtles.
As a result of these efforts, the situation of the Galapagos tortoise has improved significantly. Their total number has recovered to about 50,000, with 11 subspecies still alive. They remain the most spectacular sights on the island and living fossils of biological evolution. We hope that they will continue to survive and show us this wonderful world.