Eden vs. Reality: The True Story of Floreana’s Ecological Drama
Read the full ecological story of Floreana Island in the Galápagos from the early settlements to today.
Tag: Tortoise
Prolific Giant Tortoise “Diego” Saves his Species from Extinction
Research discovers that Diego the Giant Tortoise has helped to save his species from extinction by fathering hundreds of baby tortoises. All was well with Espanola Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis hoodensis) in the Galápagos–until invasive rats were introduced by pirates and infiltrated the island ecosystem. The presence of rats made reproduction extremely difficult and often unsuccessful […]
Spotlight on the Seychelles Islands: Beautiful and Under Siege by Invasive Species
Though they make up less than 5% of the world’s land mass, islands are home to 20% of bird, plant, and reptile species. The Seychelles Islands are among these major hotspots for biodiversity. Quarter-ton tortoises, minuscule frogs, charismatic birds and many other astonishing species have long lived together in the dazzling Seychelles landscape. However, hundreds of years of […]