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Giant Galapagos Tortoise Giant tortoises are the longest-lived of all vertebrates, averaging over 100 years.The records show that the oldest one lived 152 years. The Galapagos Islands' giant tortoise is probably the best known of all Galapagos Animals and even gave this Archipelago its name. The Galapagos tortoise has a very large shell made of bone. The shell can be domed or saddle-backed. Domed shells are found on tortoises that live in areas with lush vegetation. Saddle-back shells allow the tortoise to reach vegetation higher off the ground. This shell is more common in areas with less vegetation. Giant Galapagos Tortoise HistoryIn the 1600s, buccaneers started to use the Galapagos Islands as a base, restocking on water and repairing their boats before setting off to attack the Spanish colonies on the South American mainland.But the main attraction of the Islands were the giant tortoises which were collected and stored live on board ship where they survived for many months, providing invaluable fresh meat. In the 1800s, whaling ships and then fur-sealers collected tortoises for food and many more were killed for their fine turtle oil from the late 1800s until early the 20th century. Early settlers then hunted them for their meat and cleared large areas of their habitat for agriculture. The settlers also introduced domestic animals, many of which went wild and had a disastrous effect on the tortoises. No-one knows exactly how many giant tortoises there were originally but it has been estimated that more than 100,000 were hunted in total over the centuries. The result today is that three races of giant Galapagos tortoise are extinct while just one individual survives from a fourth. There are about 15,000 tortoises left altogether. As the hunters found it easier to collect the tortoises living round the coastal zones, the healthiest populations today tend to be those in the highlands. Giant Galapagos Tortoise EvolutionThis is due to a phenomenon seen in many Island ecosystems where gigantism evolves because there is no longer any need to hide from predators and because there are no other similar animals to compete with for food. Once the tortoises spread around the Galapagos Archipelago they evolved on their isolated Islands into the different races we see today, some with domed carapaces (shells), and others with saddle-back carapaces. The unusual saddle shape is believed to have evolved several times on different Islands, showing that it must be a very successful design for life in Galapagos. The Giant Galapagos Tortoise TodayWith the establishment of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation in 1959, a systematic review of the status of the tortoise populations began.The breeding and rearing program for giant tortoises began in response to the conditions of the tortoise population on Pinzon Island where fewer than 200 old adults were found. Without help, this population would eventually disappear. The only thing saving it was the longevity of the tortoise. The rearing program began in 1965, with the first transfer of tortoise eggs from Pinzón to the new tortoise center on Santa Cruz Island In the early 1990s, a second giant Galapagos tortoise center opened in Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island This center was originally planned during the wildfire of 1985 but was not fully operational until the wildfire of 1994, which coincided with an increase in poaching of tortoises in Isabela. Helicopters used in fire-fighting were also employed to evacuate tortoises, not from fire areas but from areas on Sierra Negra volcano where they were threatened due to illegal hunting. The Isabela tortoise center is a breeding and rearing center, currently with tortoises from both Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. In 2003, the Galapagos National Park established a breeding and rearing center for the giant Galapagos tortoise on San Cristobal Island with the tortoises enclosed in a large, natural area. It is also said that Galapagos tortoises played an important role in Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Galapagos Recommended Reading:Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands: An Identification Guide, 2nd Edition This is the most comprehensive guide to the unique wildlife of the Galapagos, excellent and detailed descriptions of its extraordinary birds, mammals, and reptiles. (Highly recommended) Galapagos: A Natural History  Custom Search If you have any questions about the Giant Galapagos Tortoise or if you'd like to know more about our Galapagos Island Tours to explore this Archipelago, You can Contact us here
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