After decades of honored "services" in which it reproduced, helping to generate over 800 descendants, the tortoise Diego will be able to return to the wild.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himAfter decades of honored "services" in which it reproduced, helping to generate over 800 descendants, the Diego tortoise will finally be able to return to the wild on an uninhabited island off the coast of Ecuador, but with one merit: it has saved all its species from extinction.
His story had gone around the world. This male specimen of giant Spanish tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) has been away from home for 87 years to carry out a "mission" against his will, as part of a conservation program of the Galapagos National Park: to save his species, that was in danger of disappearing.
Its release finally took place, albeit three months later than initially expected, along with 14 other specimens. Diego's return to his home in the Galapagos took place between Sunday and Monday, although it was scheduled for March.
Diego, the giant tortoise who saved his species, returns home after 80 years of captivity
As the Ecuadorian government explained, the 15 turtles have been subjected to a lengthy quarantine process, because shortly before their expected release in March, a health emergency occurred that prevented their relocation. But last Sunday at dusk, they finally boarded the boat on the Guadalupe River, to begin sailing to Española.
© Galapagos Park / twitter
"The work is strong but the commitment is greater, the 12 females, with an average weight of 35 kg, were carried by a single person, while for the 3 males, whose weight exceeded 55 kg, it was necessary the participation of two people. After the release, the staff stayed for about another four hours, observing the behavior of the Chelonians in their final home, ”said Danny Rueda, director of the Galapagos National Park.
https://twitter.com/PauloProanoA/status/1273030851719237633
Together with 15 other turtles, Diego returned to his native island, Española, after 87 years, closing an important chapter in the management of the Galapagos National Park. His return was announced by Paulo Proaño Andrade, Ecuadorian environment minister with a tweet:
“Fifteen Spanish tortoises, including Diego, are returning home after decades of breeding and saving their species from extinction. Their island awaits them with open arms. "
https://twitter.com/PauloProanoA/status/1272501209165897729
His unstoppable libido was credited as one of the main reasons for the survival of the giant Spanish tortoises. When Diego arrived, there were only two males and 12 females of his species alive on the island, but the turtle helped to increase the population to over 2.000.
#DiegoComesBackHome | Captive reproduction program for Spanish tortoises ends successfully.
➡️ https://t.co/ktCYR7VGVj pic.twitter.com/Uu3I9mLFuc
– Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (@Ambiente_Ec) June 16, 2020
According to the Galapagos National Park, the tortoise is over 100 years old and is the patriarch of 40% of that population.
#DiegoReturnsHome after having fulfilled an important mission: to repopulate the island of Española with his descendants and give new hope to his species. pic.twitter.com/v9IOKlTX03
– Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (@Ambiente_Ec) June 17, 2020
Diego previously lived in the San Diego Zoo, but had been brought to the Galapagos as part of a breeding program. The Islands, which are located approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are home to some of the most unique and scientifically significant ecosystems on earth.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) also recalled the event on Twitter:
???? Diego returned today to his natural environment on the Española island of the Galapagos archipelago, after decades of breeding in captivity to save his species.
The giant tortoise over 100 years had about 800 offspring.
Well done Diego! https://t.co/jUgRnJFTVs pic.twitter.com/SA7bQz7GxG
– UN Environment Program (@unep_espanol) June 15, 2020
Now Diego has finally returned free to his native island, where he will be able to rest after years of hard work.
Sources of reference: Government of Ecuador
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