Let me start by saying that when it comes to tortoises, I am now a big fan. I may not have started out that way, but all it takes is one look into those big, yellow dinosaur eyes and you’re hooked from day one…at least that’s how it was for me.
Being from the East Coast, I was more aware of gopher tortoises, a cousin of the desert tortoise that occurs in the southeastern United States, and Galápagos tortoises, known for their size and fateful run-in with Charles Darwin, and, of course, because they are awesome. I’ve always wanted to see a Galápagos tortoise in real life, but how was that going to happen, short of buying a plane ticket to the Galápagos Islands?!
So I forgot about the idea and focused elsewhere until I applied for a position in the blistering desert and learned about a fascinating animal that I may never have gotten the chance to know: the threatened desert tortoise. Working for San Diego Zoo Global’s Desert Tortoise Conservation Center (DTCC), located in Las Vegas, provides a lot of opportunities for its employees to learn about the species they interact with on a daily basis and encourages employees to get to know their fellow San Diego Zoo Global employees.
Oliver munches on some kale.
I had such an opportunity after the DTCC’s conservation program manager came back from a meeting in San Diego. She told us she met the Galápagos tortoise keeper, who offered to give DTCC employees a behind-the-scenes tour whenever we were in the area; we could even meet the Galápagos tortoises up close and personal. Hearing this, my prime directive became “I need to get to San Diego.” And get to the San Diego Zoo I did!
I met Jenna, the tortoises’ friendly keeper, who immediately welcomed us into the enclosure; these gargantuan reptiles immediately swarmed us in hopes of being hand-fed bok choy. Jenna introduced us to several of the tortoises, and, like desert tortoises, each Galápagos tortoise had a different personality and will follow anyone who has food in their hand!
Baby enjoys a neck rub.
Oliver, my favorite, was blind, although he always knew where I was holding the bok choy for him, nipping at my hand if I was too slow to fill his gaping mouth, even if he wasn’t done chewing the previous handful! Baby, tied with Oliver for my favorite Galápagos tortoise, is an adorable 10-year-old, overweight tortoise. Jenna explained to us that, though they try to get her to exercise, she would rather be eating (a sentiment I am familiar with!). When looking at Baby, I could see that she truly enjoyed the heart of palm she was happily munching away at.
Meeting Jenna and her herd of Galápagos tortoises was an amazing experience that I was able to have because of the warm and welcoming community of San Diego Zoo Global employees, who strive to make those of us at off-site field locations feel like we’re genuinely part of the family.
Larisa Gokool is a research associate at the San Diego Zoo’s Desert Tortoise Conservation Center. Read her previous post, New Lab Coordinator for Tortoises.
Thank you Larisa for a great story.
Oliver and Baby are bright blue .. or is just the light in the picture?
Moderator’s note: Their shells do look a bit blue in the photos, but they are really a dark gray.
I didn’t they were that big! How large do they get? They are kind of cute!
Moderator’s note: They are VERY cute! Here’s a link to our fact sheet on these tortoise giants.
Thanks Moderator! 500 lbs for a male??? That is one big tortoise! And to have a lifespan of 150 years… wonder if there are any other mammals that have that kind of lifespan?
Moderator’s note: Mammals don’t, but tortoises can certainly be long lived.
Thanks for the link to the fact sheet.
Another question for you about their shells. The fact sheet mentions that they are different, depending on what island the tortoise is from. Are the shells different colors or shades of grey depending on the island??
The shell color only relates to age, not island geography. The younger tortoises generally have darker shells, the older tortoises are a slightly lighter gray. The Latin name Geochelone nigra means “black tortoise”. The shell shape relates to which island they are found on.The rounder “dome” tortoises come from Islands that are more lush in vegetation, while the longer “saddleback” tortoises are found on drier islands with less food availability.
Wonderful blog, Larisa. I enjoyed reading about your love of these enormous and personable tortoises.
I too am a fan of these gentle giants. This past September, we were invited to the Galapagos Tortoise Exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. We met some of the keepers, who are very knowledgeable and shared their many stories about the care and personalities of the tortoises. The plaque posted with the names and numbers of each tortoise is exhibited and I was amazed to read that each one has a distinct personality.
The beautiful Galapagos exhibit has many desert plants including unique cactus plants and other succulents. Pools in each exhibit allow the tortoise to “soak”, which creates a very happy environment.
Larisa is there any nesting going on with eggs ready to hatch soon? Thanks for keeping us updated on these amazing and lovable creatures.
During our September visit, we took some photos that I would like to share with everyone. The photos can be found at the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdrose24/sets/72157624868519817/
I’m glad you like them Larisa. I was there 2 weeks ago and spent quite a bit of time ‘talking’ to them. I swear that they do listen to you and like it. I am jealous of you as you actually got to touch them. I took lots of pictures also.
Did Oliver go blind as a result of illness or was he born blind?
The vets think that Oliver is loosing his vision due to normal aging degeneration. I’ve noticed his vision has decreased more rapidly the last couple of years. Oliver gets around fine, but sometimes has trouble getting close enough to his food to eat. He thinks he is standing near it and starts biting at the air, when in fact he is several feet away. I hand feed him much of the time.
i want to find a galapagos tortoise to save i have a wonderful habitat for him or her even if is got little problem would love to help the species please help me
I was a child in San Diego in the early 1960′s and on a field trip from my grade school. A few were given the opportunity to “ride” a tortise during our class visit. I was fortunate that I was one selected. I fell in love with those wonderful kind animals. Back at that time the zoo was so interactive. It was a different time, I’m glad I was there. Today I would not want a child to “ride” a tortise but if it was not dangerous to the animal or the child I wish there were more interaction. I am hopeful that we as human beings begin to care for all creatures in this world.