With his long leathery neck, dull-yellow face and beady eyes, theres just something about Diego.
A tortoise more than 100 years old, Diego has had little trouble mating.
A member of Chelonoidis hoodensis, or the giant tortoise species from Espaola Island in the Galpagos in Ecuador, he was one of 15 tortoises in a captive breeding program at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Center on the island of Santa Cruz.
Among the males, Diego displayed an exceptional sex drive, so much so, hes credited with helping save his species from extinction.
Now, with the future secured, he gets to retire.
In a statement on Friday, the Galpagos National Park announced the end of the breeding program, saying an evaluation showed it had met its conservation goals.
The program began in 1965, with efforts first dedicated to saving the tortoise population on Pinzn Island, another island in the Galpagos. In 1970, researchers began saving the Espaola Island tortoises.
At the time, there were 14 tortoises left: 12 females and two males, according to the Galpagos Conservancy. In 1976, a third male was introduced to the tortoise restoration breeding program, Diego, who had lived at the San Diego Zoo in the United States for 30 years.
The breeding program helped increase the tortoise population to 2,000 from 15, Jorge Carrin, the director of the Galpagos National Park, said in a statement.
Paternity tests indicate that Diego is responsible for about 40 percent of the offspring produced, James P. Gibbs, a professor of environmental and forest biology at the State University of New York in Syracuse, said.
Another more reserved, less charismatic male E5 has generated about 60 percent, he said. The third male E3 virtually none. So Diego has been critical.
What was it about Diego? Why did he attract so many mates and garner such international attention, especially if another male was more productive?
Professor Gibbs says Diego has a big personality quite aggressive, active and vocal in his mating habits and so I think he has gotten most of the attention.
But it clearly is the other quieter male that has had much more success, he added. Maybe he prefers to mate more at night.
Professor Gibbs said it was all about who the females select.
It might come as a surprise to many but tortoises do form what we would call relationships, he said. The social hierarchies and relationships of giant tortoises are very poorly known.
Mr. Carrin, the director of the national park, had a simpler explanation: Without a doubt, Diego had some characteristics that made him special.
Professor Gibbs said the giant tortoises became endangered because easy access to the island allowed whalers, pirates, fishermen and others to remove them for food primarily in the 1800s.
Feral goats overran the island for many years and not only competed with tortoises for food, but also destroyed much of their habitat, he added.
In an interview on Saturday night, Mr. Carrin said he believed Diego was taken from his home island of Espaola sometime in the 1930s.
Conservationists also worked on the ecological restoration of Espaola Island, including promoting the growth of cactuses, which are a source of food for the tortoises. That, in turn, helped bring the species from the brink of extinction, Mr. Carrin said.
The tortoises uniquely shaped shells allow them stretch to reach food. Diego, fully stretched out, extends about five feet. He weighs about 176 pounds.
The breeding program is a part of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative, a collaborative effort led by the Galpagos Conservancy and the Galpagos National Park Directorate.
The tortoise center on Santa Cruz was established by the Charles Darwin Research Station in 1965, the Galpagos Conservancy said on its website. There are now three tortoise centers, which are all managed by the Park Directorate.
Relying on available data since 1960 about the island and its tortoise population, including a 2019 census, researchers developed mathematical models with projections for the next 100 years.
The conclusion was that the island has sufficient conditions to maintain the tortoise population, which will continue to grow normally even without any new repatriation of juveniles, Washington Tapia, the Galpagos-based director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative, said in a statement.
Almost 80 years after he was taken, Diego is expected to return to Espaola Island in March.
The island is very dry, arid even, Mr. Carrin said, but to Diego, its home.
Johnny Diaz contributed reporting.
View post:
Diego, the Tortoise Whose High Sex Drive Helped Save His Species, Retires - The New York Times
- Everybody likes the Wright House - The Morning Sun - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Families forced to leave RV park they call home - Restoration NewsMedia - March 14th, 2024 [March 14th, 2024]
- Record-setting Concorde set to return to museum home after restoration - BreakingNews.ie - March 14th, 2024 [March 14th, 2024]
- HGTV Renews Hit Detroit-Based Home Renovation Series BARGAIN BLOCK and Greenlights Five-Episode Spin-off ... - WebWire - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Next Home Improvement Highlights the Expansion of its Bathroom Remodeling Services to Colorado Spring - newschannelnebraska.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- HGTV Fans Say They're "Obsessed" with Lil Jon's Home Renovation Show - Country Living - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Home show to highlight local home improvement businesses - The Daily Times - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The outdoors is the artwork in a Hong Kong home with stunning green views - Post Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- New Perspectives: Top tips on home renovation - Time & Leisure - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Ant McPartlin and wife Anne-Marie in 'change of heart' over house renovation - Entertainment Daily - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- NYC Going Inc. Announces Major Expansion: Bringing Renowned Home Remodeling Services to All Five Boroughs ... - PR.com - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Can higher lodging costs cut restoration losses? - Canadian Underwriter - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Edmonton Renovation Show: Find the expert advice you need - Edmonton Journal - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- What's the Best Season of the Year For a Home Remodel? - Men's Journal - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Regina Hall Surprises Her Friend of 15 Years With a Life-Changing Home Renovation - House Beautiful - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Founder and owner of Jericho Home Improvements killed in shooting - KMBC Kansas City - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- See Eminem's daughter Hailie Jade Mathers' stunning home renovations in before-and-after photos - Page Six - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Magnolia's Director of Styling Reveals Waco Home Renovation - House Beautiful - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Eerie Discovery During Home Renovation Goes Viral - BNN Breaking - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- This home renovation could save you thousands of dollars and its easier to install than you might think - Yahoo! Voices - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- How to make your home warmer without an expensive renovation - The Telegraph - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- A local property manager organized power restoration in Hallowell after this week's flooding - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Restoration Hardwares CEO Pays $28 Million for His Second Malibu Beach House - Yahoo Singapore News - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Big Media's Home Renovation Isn't Over - by Claire Atkinson - The Ankler. - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- 10 Home Renovation Trends That Are on Their Way Out, According to Designers - MSN - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- 'We're lighting experts can you tell from our own home makeover?' - The Telegraph - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Colorado AG says he will look into Statewide Restoration complaints as fire victims say they were abandoned - KOAA News 5 - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Gisele Bndchen Reveals the Tool She Uses to Manage 'Incredible' Home Renovation Project - PEOPLE - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Reliable Roofing and Restoration: Leading the Way in Home Restoration in Houston - EIN News - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- TikTok Famous Tulsa Couple Transforming Lives With Free Home Remodeling Projects - News On 6 - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- 10 Top Home Decor and Renovation Trends for 2024, According to Opendoor - Real Simple - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Christina Hall Shares "Stunning" Photos of $12M Home Renovation - House Beautiful - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- When is it Time to Call the Pros After a DIY Home Renovation Goes Wrong? - Alberta Prime Times - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Dave Ramsey Reveals the 10 Most Popular Home Renovations and Their Typical Cost - Yahoo Finance - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- HGTV looks to raise the stakes in home renovation with latest formats - C21Media - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- NC man accused of taking money for home renovations, not completing work - Yahoo News - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Savvy mother installs 200 DIY laundry chute as part of 300K home renovation... so her kids don't have to bri - Daily Mail - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- Sofa Vergara Finds Herself Entangled in a Massive Lawsuit Over Alleged Unpaid Bills for Home Renovations - SheKnows - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- DIY training centre teaches DIY renovation and home repair - CTV News Edmonton - December 11th, 2023 [December 11th, 2023]
- #TBT: Austin's Pioneer Farms preserves & expands the living history of Central Texas' past - KEYE TV CBS Austin - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Restoration company warns Sask. homeowners of extreme weather damage ... - February 27th, 2023 [February 27th, 2023]
- 'Bring them home': Restoration efforts have condors returning to Yurok Tribal lands - Herald and News - February 27th, 2023 [February 27th, 2023]
- This restored 1884 Irving Spencer House is the oldest in Portlands Irvington neighborhood - OregonLive - February 19th, 2023 [February 19th, 2023]
- 31 Mid City homes in Baton Rouge will undergo an $8.7 million renovation - The Advocate - February 19th, 2023 [February 19th, 2023]
- PROPERTY MATTERS: Brewery owners looking to expand into waffles, and other development news - Connect Savannah.com - December 14th, 2022 [December 14th, 2022]
- World Champion Filipe Toledo To Present United Nations World Restoration Flagships Alongside Celebrities Jason Momoa, Ellie Goulding and Global Stars... - December 14th, 2022 [December 14th, 2022]
- Restoration Services | ServiceMaster Restore - September 5th, 2022 [September 5th, 2022]
- Faith community still integral in flood recovery efforts - The Mountaineer - September 5th, 2022 [September 5th, 2022]
- Frank Lloyd Wright house reopens to visitors following 'transformative' restoration - Building Design - September 5th, 2022 [September 5th, 2022]
- Apni Party submits memorandum to L-G for restoration of J&K's statehood - The Statesman - September 5th, 2022 [September 5th, 2022]
- 110-year-old historic vessel Battleship Texas moving to Galveston for restoration - KTVZ - September 5th, 2022 [September 5th, 2022]
- Signal Restoration Names Executive VP of Business Development - CleanLink - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Montana attorney general warns of scams and fraud in flood damage restoration - Bozeman Daily Chronicle - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- SWFL gives a new home to threatened wildlife species - Wink News - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Musseling Back from Near Extinction | US Fish & Wildlife Service - US Fish and Wildlife Service - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Pittsfield Looks into the Future of Wahconah Park - iBerkshires.com - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Long Path Ahead for Burma Road Restoration - Newport This Week - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- York couple hopes their mobile repair and restoration business brings value to the community - Daily Press - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Restoration crews busy helping people with storm damage - WANE - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Beirut house installed in London's V&A museum - The National - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Ohio childrens services workers respond to crisis of Cuyahoga kids living in county office building: The Wak - cleveland.com - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Camden Herald letter: Thanks for supporting the Vulcan Locomotive restoration - Courier-Gazette & Camden Herald - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Over $1.4 million in grants announced for coastal communities - Wisconsin Examiner - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee is the result of 'healing' after a military past - WUWM - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- It was up there with some of the hurricane-force winds Powell residents wait for power restoration after storms - WATE 6 On Your Side - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- This Peugeot 604 Is One Man's Obsessive Restoration - Car and Driver - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Restoration work at Olean Legion thanks to DRI fund - Olean Times Herald - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Renowned Dermatologist - Dr. Matt Leavitt joins Gore Range Capital as an Executive Partner - Business Wire - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Save the Date - Flint Township View - MiHomepaper - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Learn to make the most of your garden at these summer events - OregonLive - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- This 1971 Datsun 510 May Be The Attainable Japanese Icon You Need - Top Speed - July 8th, 2022 [July 8th, 2022]
- Get inspiration from these amazing home improvement projects in Alabama - AL.com - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- New HGTV series include a home renovation show in Minneapolis - Bring Me The News - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- Mayor Bruce Harrell Announces One Seattle Day of Service on May 21st - Office of the Mayor - Seattle.gov - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- Dedication and open house slated for 1883 Ridge Valley schoolhouse restoration in West Rockhill - The Reporter - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- Magnolia Network: What's Coming and Returning in May 2022 - Adweek - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- RTE architect Hugh Wallace on doing his own home renovation - Sunday World - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- Volunteers are the heart of our community | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News - April 19th, 2022 [April 19th, 2022]
- 'Furniture with good bones': Marshfield restoration artist breathes new life into antiques - The Patriot Ledger - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- 5 things to keep in mind when remodeling your home in Arizona - AZ Big Media - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]