The Galapagos Tortoise The Galapagos Island Tortoise or “Giant Tortoise” is a very interesting breed of reptile. They can live up to 1 year without drinking or eating anything because of their internal structure. The tortoise has been put on the endangered species list by the Ecuadorian government since there are less than 15,000 left on the islands. There are a lot of preservation attempts being used to save them, but wild animals and poachers are still threatening the species. Important things to know are what makes them such a special species, why people would hunt them, and what’s being done to save them.
According to National geographic writer Tim Laman these tortoises live on average 100+ years and will grow to be about 4 feet long
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They were most commonly used for sailors who had long journey’s to make and needed a supply of fresh meat. The tortoises can store enough water and food in them to survive an entire year without eating. This made them a good source of fresh meat to the sailors who would capture them and keep them alive on board until they needed them. The tortoises are a great source of meat because some Giant Tortoises can reach up to five feet long and get up to 550 pounds. 550 pounds of fresh meat was huge for sailors and could last them a long time. They also were killed for many other reasons. They were also used to make utensils, such as bowls. They were also killed for their shells and their fine ‘turtle oil.’ The tortoise population also diminished because early settlers cleared large areas of their habitat for agriculture and raised livestock. Some settlers brought domestic animals with them and many of them became wild. These new species introduced to the islands were disastrous on the tortoises because they were new animals and the tortoises did not know whether they were friend or foe. Poaching is rare today with all the protection the tortoises have, but poaching was a huge problem for a long time. More than 120 tortoises have been killed by poachers since 1990. This number is way down due to the efforts of the people trying to protect these endangered tortoises. An estimated …show more content…
Now, they estimate at least 4 of the subspecies are extinct. The Charles Darwin Foundation teamed up with The Galapagos Island National Park Service in 1959. This is when only 11 of the 14 original populations of tortoise on the island were still alive. They noticed the problem on an island where the population of Giant Tortoise thrived, started to drop. Although Giant Tortoises are the longest lived of all vertebrates, averaging a life-span of over 100 years, they are still in threat of extinction. The oldest Giant Tortoise on record was about 152 years old. Then before they knew what happened less than 200 Giant Tortoises were found there. They soon realized wild animals like rats and pigs were eating the eggs. An estimate of a century was given before they would have been extinct without the help of people who want to help them survive. They started to take the eggs and raise them until they were about four or five and were considered to be strong enough to survive rats and other predators. The worst situation the animal had to face was on Española Island, where only 14 Giant Tortoises remained. Just two males and twelve females remained on the island, where there had been thousands roaming in the past. They were all taken in for a breeding program. This eventually led to actions being taken on all of the Galapagos Islands to help the species
The Pygmy Three-Toed-Sloth, also known as Bradypus pygmaeus scientifically, has been classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. “They are restricted to one area from Isla Escudo de Veraguas in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama” (“Pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus)” (a)). The island is very small measuring to about 5 square kilometers in area. These sloths are usually found in red mangroves at sea level. As of now the Pygmy three-toed-sloth are critically endangered and weak law enforcement, deforestation, and poachers are to blame.
Once named the friendliest city in the world, Puerto Vallarta in my eyes continues to carry that reputation. The people who live there are what make this place so special; it is my most desired place to travel to. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico sits along the coast of Banderas Bay in the Pacific Ocean. Along with having exotic scenery, they are known for having an exceptional variety of food. With the dark frigid winter creeping up on us, my head wanders to memories of missed friends and 90 degree temperatures.
The efforts taking place through different conservation organizations and the State of Florida are making a mixed impact on the survival of Manatees and Sea Turtles. The decline in manatee population has decreased, but due to low reproduction rates, more needs to be done to avoid extinction. The sea turtle outlook is more species specific. Some species of turtle are seeing stabilization in population, while others are not. The State of Florida has a large array of custom license tags that support the conservation efforts taking place within the State. The proceeds go to benefit the local marine life in Florida. With financial resources, state and local cooperation, and through constant research and observation, we are able to learn more about both of these gentle animals. With human awareness of those living in Florida, these two animals will survive
How many people can say that they have a pet that has been around, in some form or other, for 300 million years? Reptiles are fascinating animals that have been around since the Carboniferous Period, 300 million years ago. Many different species of reptiles have come and gone over the course of time and there are five main groups. Turtles and tortoises are distinguished by the presence of their carapace, or shells, which is also their main defense against predators. Lizards are the most diverse and varied among the reptiles with many different types from chameleons, to iguanas, to geckos, to monitor lizards which includes the largest of all lizards; the Komodo dragon. Tuataras are the most ancient of reptiles and can be found exclusively on the island of New Zealand. Snakes are distinguished by the presence of no limbs, stretchy jaws to swallow large food items, and a mainly carnivorous diet. Crocodiles and alligators have evolved from the group of creatures that gave rise to the dinosaurs and have rough scaly skin, huge jaws and have been known to spend much of their time near water. People fear reptiles because some are dangerous to them including venomous reptiles. However, most reptiles are actually harmless and only a few are undoubtedly dangerous. Still other people are fascinated by reptiles and are interested in learning more about why these animals behave the way they do. This is why many of them actually keep reptiles as pets so they can see how their actions affect how they survive in their habitat. People who keep reptiles as pets can educate themselves by: learning all of the traits and behaviors, and preserve certain species of reptiles if it is critically endangered, and educating other people by letting them see th...
Commercial fishing of other marine animals is one of the main reasons for drastic decline in all sea turtles. Turtles rely on air to breathe despite being marine animals, therefore when captured in nets while scavenging for food they most likely drown. In the US alone 250,000 turtles are accidently captured, injured or killed every year. (WWF, conserveturtles) However, there is also commercial fishing within sea turtles. Turtle’s shells, skin, meat and, eggs are valuable and decorative items that many humans want to
In Julie Otsuka’s novel, When the Emperor was Divine, the boy’s emotions are embodied through animals. In mid 1942, the boy and his family are displaced from their home in Berkeley, CA, and relocated to an internment camp. The family is forcibly imprisoned in response to Executive Order 9066, due to their Japanese heritage. The boy’s initial hope and innocence are expressed through a tortoise. The disappearance of these virtues become evident through the animal’s demise. Additionally, images of wild horses display the boy’s desire for freedom and an identity, while their death illustrates his inability to aspire to such things. A tortoise and horses manifest the boy’s internal struggles with his internment. The life and death of the creatures
This archipelago, a group of islands, is home of some of the most diverse organisms in the world. This is caused from the island's extreme isolation. The island has a wide variety of organisms that differ from anywhere else in the world, this inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in 1835. This is the main reason the islands are so popular. Having approximately 170,000 tourist a year. Only around 30,000 people live on the 19 main islands. “The islands are surrounded by the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which was created in 1986 (70,000 km2) and extended to its current area (133,000 km2) in 1998, making it one of the largest marine reserves in the world.”
On average, Loggerhead Sea Turtles have a life span of more than 50 years and weigh 250 pounds. (CITE?) Loggerheads are known for their large heads, strong jaws and a heart-shaped reddish-brown
The beauty of life becomes apparent from the tail end of a five hundred pound turtle. Crouching uncomfortably, my hands under her cloaca, I caught the eggs. Each made a subtle ‘plop’ as each cue ball-shaped egg exited the safety her womb and found its new home in the plastic bag held between my hands. It was a frigid January night in Costa Rica, and I was working with The Leatherback Trust to relocate the eggs of the highly endangered leatherback turtle in order to ensure they were safe from environmental harm. My cohorts and I worked tirelessly, patrolling the beach for hours on end in the darkness of the night to find the rare vulnerable turtle making her tire-track trail up the wet sand of the beach to her final nesting place.
“Saving Wild Places - Latin American and the Caribbean - Yasuni National Park, Ecuador” Wildlife Conservation Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
sea otters are from the kingdom animalia. Sea otters are stouter and have large rib cages, smaller tails and muzzle than other species of otters. Yet sea otters posses the fine, dense fur coats characteristic of the Mustelidae. Their forefeet are small and dexterous with retractile claws and the flipper like hind feet are broad and webbed. Sea otters once was abundant along most coastal North pacific ocean. That was before fur traders hunted them for their thick ice, luxurious pelts. By the year 1900, sea otters were nearly extinct . Protected since 1911, alaska sea otters have made a comeback. There lifespan is 10-15 years. Great white sharks are the primary predator of sea otters and occasionally eaten by coyote so the predators that the
Goldring-Gun Marine Biology Station in Law Baulas National Park in Costa Rica is also in Central America. It is run by The Leatherback Trust (TLT), an organization devoted to saving sea turtles, especially leatherbacks. As many as 24 researchers at the station work together to study and try to help nesting turtles. They also host students from middle and secondary schools in field-based learning programs.
According to recent studies, the saolas are categorized as critically endangered, with its population size estimated to the miniscule numbers from 70 up to 7...
Our first destination will not be in continental Ecuador rather the islands due west otherwise known as the Galapagos Islands. These islands are cut through the equator and cater to all sorts of living creature, including the well-known giant tortoises. The Galapagos have interesting residents including the unique marine lizard, the only that can swim in the ocean. There are also species that are not known to be in the extreme heat of the world like the Galapagos penguin. Around the island 400 plus fish species are known and snorkeling here is the best in the world, seeing these fish, sank ships, and maybe even a tor...
In our world today we have approximately 26,021 endangered species. Endangered species are organisms that may possible become extinct. The term 'endangered species' refers to all species that fits this description. However some conservation biologists and scientists normally use the term ‘endangered species’ to refer to species that are put on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature)Red List. Many factors can be looked at when considering the conservation status of a species. Factors such as human threats or environmental threats can cause a species to become endangered.