Santa Cruz Island
It is said that ‘the way to a man’s soul is through his eyes’. Could this also be true for a tortoise? As we look past the creases of this ancient beast one can but imagine the stories, the changes, and the great sadness of the giant tortoise. After millennia of living an undisturbed life in the wilderness of the unknown islands, man arrived and the persecution began.
Luckily, the horrors subsided forty years ago with the formal protection of these extraordinary beasts. Without the protection of the National Park (GNPS) and Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), the tortoises would not even have a sad story to tell. The initial reason for starting these institutions was to halt the dwindling of the population and assist in its recovery.
To date, not only have the populations been protected but also a rearing in captivity of some two thousand individuals has enabled a solid future to be secured for our old friends. True, when broken down to the sub-species level, there is the Pinta island sole survivor, Lonesome George, who upon death will render the species extinct. Several other tortoise populations are unable to survive on their own due to the threat of introduced species and therefore need a permanent helping hand from the staff of the CDRS and GNPS in order to simply carry on with their normal life cycles.
With continued effort and support, the eyes of the large reptiles may one-day reveal a contented soul, whose depths will reflect a happy life due to our dedicated conservationists.
It is said that ‘the way to a man’s soul is through his eyes’. Could this also be true for a tortoise? As we look past the creases of this ancient beast one can but imagine the stories, the changes, and the great sadness of the giant tortoise. After millennia of living an undisturbed life in the wilderness of the unknown islands, man arrived and the persecution began.
Luckily, the horrors subsided forty years ago with the formal protection of these extraordinary beasts. Without the protection of the National Park (GNPS) and Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), the tortoises would not even have a sad story to tell. The initial reason for starting these institutions was to halt the dwindling of the population and assist in its recovery.
To date, not only have the populations been protected but also a rearing in captivity of some two thousand individuals has enabled a solid future to be secured for our old friends. True, when broken down to the sub-species level, there is the Pinta island sole survivor, Lonesome George, who upon death will render the species extinct. Several other tortoise populations are unable to survive on their own due to the threat of introduced species and therefore need a permanent helping hand from the staff of the CDRS and GNPS in order to simply carry on with their normal life cycles.
With continued effort and support, the eyes of the large reptiles may one-day reveal a contented soul, whose depths will reflect a happy life due to our dedicated conservationists.
