Giant Galapagos Tortoises Feast On Elephant Ear Stalks

Tortoises in the Galapagos Islands grow to an enormous size, often weighing as much as 417kg (919 lbs). In order to grow to this size, these animals are voracious eating machines, consuming massive amounts of vegetation each day. Slow moving, the tortoises cannot travel great distances or travel rapidly, so it is necessary for them to be able to survive on a wide variety of vegetation.

These are known as elephant ear plants, a large leafed plant with a robust stalk. The plant has microscopic hairs that cause irritation in the mouth and lips of most animals. The tortoise is not affected by this and it has a great fondness for these plants as we can see by the tortoise's reaction to finding his friends eating these delicious stalks.

This is Floreana Island in the Galapagos. A subspecies of giant tortoise that once thrived here has gone extinct. Scientists have brought other tortoises to this island and they have been working hard to establish protected areas for the tortoises where the researchers can employ selective breeding of a hybrid subspecies descended from the now extinct subspecies. This will enable them to closely create a population of tortoises with similar characteristics and genetics, effectively "resurrecting" the extinct subspecies. Of great importance is the recent discovery of a tortoise subspecies on Isabela Island that are descended from the parents of the extinct tortoises that once lived on Floreana. This will also assist in recreating similar genetics in newborn tortoises.

Tortoises are able to live for nearly 200 years under ideal conditions. Their longevity is what ensures the survival of the species, allowing a mature tortoise to breed and produce a great number of offspring in its life. Small tortoises are heavily predated by birds, lizards, dogs, and rats but once they reach maturity, few animals are able to cause them harm.

These tortoises are beautiful and gentle creatures. They are one of the most iconic species of animals in the Galapagos Islands.