The Tortoises are Back
Driven almost to extinction, giant tortoises of the Galapagos are back in full force. On average these island dwellers live more than 100 years, but were nearly wiped out by hunting, habitat destruction and introduced animal predators that fed on tortoises' eggs and young. Now, some 50 years of work—including captive breeding and protection in the wild—mean the Galapagos tortoises will survive as one of only two remaining groups of giant tortoises on Earth.