More Tortoises

Because Genevieve, who's always loved turtles and tortoises, asked -- more tortoise photos.  We first saw the Giant Galapagos Tortoises in a tortoise refuge, where they have a huge amount of land to wander and gambol.  We saw about 20 full grown tortoises, 30-150 years old.  These were all Santa Cruz GGTortoises; other islands' species are different, and look somewhat different -- shell shape is determined by their available food.  Go Darwin. 

Strolling. 

Btw, I can't seem to post videos in this blog, but will soon facebook post a nice little one Steve took of a dining tortoise. 

A grownup, eating, in the tortoise refuge.

A tortoise path in the grass.  They're not hard to track. 

Hanging out in a mudhole with one of the (famous Darwin) finches.

And with some ducks in another mudhole. 

A tortoise track out of the mudhole.  About 3.5 feet wide.

They tuck their tails most of the time.  Aww. 

It's amazing how comfortable they are with cameras and paparazzi.

Fresh tortoise poo, with my boot for reference.

Steve, trying on the garb, about 75 pounds worth.

 

 

Then we went to the tortoise breeding center.  No tortoise action while we were there. 

The results of above. 

Looking into the 1 and 2 year old playgrounds.

Two year olds hanging out.

In the three-year old pen. 

5 year old, chillin.  They get released into the wild at about 5, when they're no longer easy prey and have a good chance of survival into adulthood.  They'll be ready to breed in their twenties.